Sexual violence against women along Europe’s migration routes

A report by the European Union Agency for Asylum shows that most migrants and asylum seekers (around 70 percent) are men, but the number of women seeking asylum in Europe is rising.

Irini Kontogiannis of the International Rescue Committee in Italy said: “We are witnessing an increase in the number of women traveling alone, both along the Mediterranean routes and the Balkan routes.”

The organization’s 2024 report highlights a 250 percent annual increase in the number of single adult women arriving in Italy via the Balkan route, while the number of families has increased by 52 percent.

Experts say that migration routes to Europe are extremely dangerous. According to statistics, at least 3,419 migrant deaths or disappearances were recorded in Europe in 2024 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), making it the deadliest year on record.

For women, however, the threat of sexual violence and sexual exploitation is also present—something that has happened to many. One migrant woman said that another woman had promised her a better life, but failed to keep that promise.

The woman, named Esther, said: “She locked me in a room and brought someone in. That person raped me. This is what they do.”

Ugochi Daniels of the International Organization for Migration said: “These women’s experiences are different and usually far riskier. Even women who travel in groups typically lack continuous protection, which exposes them to abuse by traffickers, smugglers, or other migrants.”

Many women are aware of the dangers, yet they still take these migration routes to Europe.

Hermine Gebdo of the Stella Polar anti–human trafficking network said: “All migrants have to pay smugglers. But women are usually exploited for sexual purposes.”

The International Organization for Migration has stated that a large portion of violence against women occurs during their journey.

Ugochi Daniels added: “Women often flee sexual violence by a partner in their country of origin, only to experience the very same abuse again during the journey.”