Motherhood, Menstruation and Sexual Violence: Brief on Women and Girls in Immigration Detention

More than 1/2 of those immigrating to the U.S. are women, girls and other menstruating people

Many are between the ages of 13-50 in which reproductive care is crucial to health and life

The U.S.’s “ZERO TOLERANCE” IMMIGRATION POLICIES significantly increases the number of women, girls and other menstruating and birthing people in ICE detention.

WHILE THE U.S. HAS A DUTY TO PROVIDE HUMANE DETENTION CONDITIONS WOMEN, GIRLS AND OTHER MENSTRUATING PEOPLE IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION EXPERIENCE:

  • A LACK OF ACCESS TO MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MATERIALS AND SANITARY CONDITIONS RELATED TO MENSTRUATION
  • A LACK OF ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE (INCLUDING CHILD-BIRTH, PRE-POST NATAL CARE AND ABORTION RELATED INFORMATION AND SERVICES)
  • INCREASED VULNERABILITY TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE PERPETRATED BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY

THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZES THAT:

WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS ARE A POPULATION AT GREAT RISK OF MASS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

WOMEN AND GIRLS IN DETENTION SETTINGS ARE TARGETED FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THREATENED BY INHUMANE CONDITIONS

For more information on these issues download the brief below: