In FY2017, girls made up 32 percent of unaccompanied migrant children from Central America in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). These girls undertook the journey to the United States despite the well-known risks of sexual violence, trafficking, and other forms of violence and abuse along the migration route. Many were already fleeing sexual violence in their countries of origin, where they could not find protection or assistance. While there has been increased attention to child migration from Central America, insufficient attention has been paid to the specific needs and experiences of unaccompanied girls who make the perilous journey to the United States.
To respond to the needs of this uniquely vulnerable group, in 2015 KIND launched its Gender and Migration Initiatives (GMI), a new programming area focused on preventing and addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against migrant children. The GMI combines research, policy advocacy, and programming to promote the rights and protection of migrant children, including survivors of SGBV, in all phases of their migration journey.
Silvia was forced to leave her home for the U.S. due to gender-based violence.
Hear her story and many more from KIND and UNICEF’s Central American Voices Project.
Over 70 girls have gone through leadership and empowerment programming. Participants learned skills related to job preparedness, entrepreneurship, community organizing, and advocacy, and shared what they learned with their families and communities.
GMI partners with organizations in Guatemala and Honduras to engage potential and returning migrant children in SGBV prevention programming. Our programming partners in Guatemala are Asociación Pop No’j, Colectivo Vida Digna, and ECAP, and our partner in Honduras is Casa Alianza Honduras.
In 2018 the GMI piloted SGBV prevention workshops with migrant youth in the Baltimore, and Washington DC areas.
You can make a difference for these vulnerable women and girls who are forced to flee.
