Media-friendly Glossary on Migration: Women Migrant Workers and Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) Edition

"Word choices can actively contribute to shaping positive perceptions of women migrant workers and those who experience violence."

This glossary serves as a guide for journalists, researchers, practitioners and others who conduct trainings or write about women's labour migration and violence against women in the context of migration. The glossary was compiled by the Safe and Fair programme, which is being implemented through a partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations (UN) Women, and works to ensure safe and fair migration for women migrant workers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The programme is part of the multi-year European Union (EU) - UN Spotlight Initiative, which seeks to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030, describing itself as "the world's largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls."

As explained in the glossary, "Language used in different communication materials and trainings puts forward specific positions and impressions, including at times perpetuating stereotypes. Thus, it is crucial to be clear about terms and definitions related to women migrant workers and violence against women, establishing a common ground from which to have conversations and work towards a world in which rights are respected for all and one in which women’s voice, choice and agency is recognised."

The glossary, therefore, promotes rights-based terminology that is based on international law and internationally agreed-on guidance wherever possible. For example, in order to help public discourse move away from dehumanising terms like "illegal migrant" that connote migrants as criminals, the guide encourages the use of more neutral terms recognised in international law such as "undocumented migrant". Another example of a term that is promoted is "survivor" rather than "victim" when talking about women who experience violence, as the word "survivor" reinforces a woman's agency and empowerment.