Women's Asylum In Europe

My research topic will discuss women refugees seeking asylum in Europe and the difficulties they face both along the way to and in Europe. When women refugees leave their homelands, they believe they have left the hostility and danger behind, yet they still face several hardships, such as gender-based violence, sexual harassment, rape, exploitation, and insufficient or no health care, on their way to refuge. Women refugees make up 80% of the refugee population, yet most do not successfully make it onto European soil (Salant, 2003). This occurs due to the harassment they face on the way to Europe by smugglers, aid officials or even refugees. There have been several accounts in which women faced exploitation or had to sell themselves, due to the high smuggler fees or tight border control, to continue their journey. In addition to the heinous conditions the women refugees face on their journey to Europe, they also face similar conditions when they reach Europe due to lack of gender-segregation. In many cases, women have to use the same hygienic facilities as men or rest in the same tents as men, which puts them at risk and adds to their fear.