Dreaming of Europe becomes a nightmare for migrant women

May 09, 2018

Credits: Radio Canada

"Women and children first." Relieved to be rescued, women reach out to the rescuer of SOS Mediterranean to get on board of the Zodiac and leave without regret the boat that allowed them to flee Libya. Once safely aboard the Aquarius rescue ship, some of them begin to sing; others fall into the arms of Doctors Without Borders' staff.

All of them arrive from far away. All are on the ship because they are considered extremely vulnerable. The passage through Libya has left on them physical and psychological traces. Stefanie Hofstetter and Catalina Arenas, the humanitarian affairs officers aboard, talk with the women to learn more about their story and to warn them of the other risks that await them upon their arrival. "When we see young women traveling alone or in women's groups, it's a situation that puts us on alert," says Catalina.

Because, for many migrant women, the nightmare does not come to an end with their landing in Europe. Many of them are already trapped, victims of networks of madams who paid for their trip in order to exploit them in Europe.