Migrant women build a binational agenda to address human and labor rights violations

Por

Alan Vargas

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Publicado: 14/3/2025 · 4:59 p.m. MX | Actualizado: 14/3/2025 · 4:59 p.m. MX

Amid escalating tensions regarding migration during Donald Trump’s second term, a coalition of 12 migrant women, activists, and civil society leaders convened this week to advance a shared agenda focusing on the protection of women in migration contexts. The meeting was organized by Justice for Migrant Women (J4MW) and the Institute for Women in Migration (IMUMI) and aimed to establish a foundation for a binational strategy addressing the urgent needs of this population.

During a press conference in Mexico City, representatives from both organizations emphasized the importance of transnational collaboration. “Migrant women must lead this strategy because, despite their vulnerability, they are strong and wise,” said Mónica Ramírez, founder of J4MW and a labor rights advocate with roots in Ohio’s agricultural communities. Meanwhile, Gretchen Kuhner, director of IMUMI, stressed that “making their struggle visible is essential to building more just societies on both sides of the border.”

Claudia de la Rocha, Program Director at the Central Ohio Workers Center and originally from Sonora, Mexico, shared her perspective on discrimination: “In the U.S., migrant women work harder, yet they face low wages, abuse, and exclusion. Now more than ever, we need to raise our voices.”

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Mujeres migrantes construyen agenda binacional para enfrentar violaciones a derechos humanos y laborales

Una coalición de 12 mujeres migrantes, activistas y líderes de organizaciones civiles se reunió para promover una agenda migratoria con enfoque de género

Similarly, Laura Cortés Ladino, from the Caminantas organization in Guadalajara, underscored the need to combat xenophobia: “Latin America cannot replicate the hatred toward migrants. We share a common history that must translate into solidarity.” Cortés, a Colombian researcher specializing in gender and migration, highlighted the urgent need for policies that recognize the contributions of women in migration.

“Mental health is also crucial”, stated Rossy Antúnez, head of Transnational Families. Librada Paz, an independent activist in New York, recounted her journey from farmworker to university graduate and rights advocate: “My goal is for communities to know how to defend themselves. In the U.S., abuses against undocumented and contracted workers remain a crisis.” Connected to the Rural Migrant Ministry, Librada stressed the urgent need for accessible information to empower migrant women.

This gathering, envisioned as the first in a series of dialogues, proposed concrete actions, including:

• Strengthening transnational support networks
• Demanding access to legal and healthcare services
• Pressuring both governments to prioritize gender-sensitive approaches in migration policies

According to Mexico’s Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), 40% of asylum applications in Mexico are submitted by women, many of whom are fleeing violence.

Alan Vargas

Licenciado en Administración, con estudios en Ciencias Políticas, creador de contenido | Actualidad, Historia, Vida pública y Política.