Risks and Threats to Safe and Free Movement
摘要
The fifth chapter focuses on women’s right to free and safe movement within and outside the border of their countries. Indeed, in some regions of the world, women are not even allowed to leave their homes without prior permission from their spouse, leading to significant physical and psychological consequences that impact their quality of life. It is even more difficult for some women to move freely across their country’s borders, as official authorisation from public authorities is sometimes required. Women’s migration is included in this chapter to assert their right to free movement in any area of the world, as a result of exercising their capacity for self-determination and the autonomous right to decide on their own lives. Decisions falling within the sphere of self-determination of one’s personal life path should not be subject to external/internal authorities that can limit their exercise. The limited protection of women’s right to freedom of movement and the numerous legal gaps allow for the persistence of phenomena such as human trafficking (especially of women), sexual exploitation, linked to forced prostitution, enslavement, and torture. This chapter also addresses the lack of prosecution for crimes such as the rape of migrant women who, during the migratory journey, find themselves subjected to severe psychological and material extortion (to pay for unforeseen expenses at the departure). The third paragraph introduces another highly topical issue related to the lack of “specific” protection for the rights of women forced to resettle due to the effects of climate change in certain areas. Individuals experiencing displacement are not falling under the legal framework of refugees. However, the international community has started a debate to address this phenomenon, to answer the request of displaced people asking for specific recognition of their status as of forced migrant due to climate change. In this context, the condition of women is characterised by the multifaceted nature of their discrimination.