The MotM Monthly
March 2023

In Honor of Women's History Month
Seeing the experiences of women in the migrant world.

This month, the MotM team is bringing you a reflective piece on some of the experiences and agency of migrant women. Let’s take a look back at the stories of two women in the Journey Story Archive as inspiration and guidance, Blessing and Mary.

Born in Benin City, Nigeria, Blessing spent ten months on the road navigating life between Nigeria, Niger and Libya before reaching Crotone, Italy in 2016. As Blessing recounts moments of abuse, torture, and trafficking in her story, we are reminded of the distinctive forms of oppression and violence that women, especially Black women are exposed to.

Feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability are often at the forefront for women in the migrant community, but that doesn’t mean they are deterred from discussing their experiences. Mary’s journey took five months to Europe, and her account is robust. On Lampedusa after her arrival, in April 2017, she was able to tell her story comprehensively, clearly and with confidence—and without her husband Dauda’s influence.

With such stories filled with resilience, we can think about how power and control factors in for migrant women. Both Blessing and Mary’s stories show us the fledgling agency women have in the migrant community, and how their ability to tell their stories may be either hindered or supported by outside forces.

Women profiles are scarce in our Journey Story Archive. There are many barriers, institutional and societal, that prevent migrant women from being able to come forward with their stories. As these women deal with the aftermath of their journeys, which are often marred with moments of physical, sexual, and emotional violence, they require support and safety.

In our push for the visibility of migrant women in our storytelling initiative, we are also promoting intersectional values and support the fight for reproductive rights, criminal justice, racial equality, and more.

–Ayomide Badmus

"I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.
I am changing the things I cannot accept.”
–Angela Davis

In Memoriam
Remembering those who crossed

On February 26, a boat carrying 200 people smashed into rocks and broke apart near the coast of Crotone, a city in the southern Italian region of Calabria. It had departed from Turkey, with many aboard from Iran and Afghanistan. We would like to take a moment to remember the 62 men, women, and children who lost their lives in this shipwreck.

Among the departed is Shahida “Chinto” Raza, a former Pakistani hockey and football player. Raza was captain of the national hockey team and represented Pakistan in both football and martial arts. She had left in search of a cure for her son’s medical condition that she was unable to afford treatments for at home. We extend our condolences to Raza’s family, and the families of the others who lost their lives in this tragedy, as well as for the dozens of people who are still missing.

There are at least 80 survivors, a 12-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl being the youngest among them. Our thoughts are with them. We stand with them.

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, called the overcrowded situation aboard the boat “criminal," though it is her own policy that creates increased deaths at sea. In recent weeks, a new law enacted during her tenure has humanitarian vessels limited to performing single rescues per mission, creating longer time gaps before others in distress at sea may be found and saved, thus increasing the risk and volume of fatalities. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean crossing remains the most dangerous passage on the globe.

What's coming up.

Spring reporting starts in the months ahead in the Netherlands, look for new stories coming soon from Belgium, Italy, plus, our newest Journey Story from Spain is live now. Take a look and keep in touch with us for updates and get the latest event announcements on LinkedIn and Instagram.