Forced Migration and Women in the EU Law from Lisbon Treaty to Today

Abstract

Migration is attracting a considerable level of attention which plays a significant role in International Relations. In a plain and simplest term, migration is referred as to as an act of relocation. International migration e.g. relocation that involves crossing of borders or forced migration e.g. involuntary displacement all play important roles in today’s global and EU politics. Indeed, the fact that there are approximately 66 million forced or displaced people in the world reveals why forced displacement has quite obvious impacts on states’ policies. Women constitute more than half of the forced or displaced population. Research shows that even though men and women experience varying issues throughout their migration journeys, the impacts of migration on females are considerably more detrimental when compared directly to the males’. Thus, Gender, which has a long running history in terms of its importance and development, has a significant place in the migration studies that focusses on individuals. Gender mainstreaming—which implies paying special regard to the equality of gender, is one of the main principles of the EU policies. This study therefore focuses on the position of women in the EU law with respect to the gender, especially since the Lisbon Treaty.