Armed groups and forced migration of women

The deteriorating security situation in Latin America and the Caribbean has had a profound impact on migration patterns. In particular, the expansion of armed and criminal groups – along with growing rivalries between these groups – has led to an increase in forced migration, with grave consequences for women and girls.

En route to their destination and on arrival in the host country, migrant women often find themselves in multiple shifting roles. Armed and criminal groups see them as easy prey, using them to demonstrate and assert their power. They are instrumentalised by criminal groups – forced to participate in illicit activities, criminalised for their involvement and targeted as potential informants for rival groups. At the same time, many are forced into stereotypically female roles such as cooking, cleaning, caregiving, and even sex work.

Many of these women, themselves survivors of violence, go on to become leaders, supporting other migrant women in efforts to prevent and protect themselves against the threat of violence.

Against this backdrop, migrant women and girls are increasingly at risk in the regions where armed groups are most active. These include areas controlled by groups such as the “Lobos” and “Choneros” in Ecuador, the ELN and FARC dissidents in Colombia and Venezuela, and “Primeiro Comando da Capital” and “Comando Vermelho” in Brazil, as well as the various Mexican cartels on the border with Guatemala.

These dangers are further compounded by the growing militarisation of and indiscriminate use of force by governments in Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

Characteristic of forced migration

1. Cross-border: The majority of those affected by forced migration flee to neighbouring countries, with restrictive policies making longer migration routes difficult.
2. Irregular: Many migrant women travel with no documents or use unofficial border crossings for fear of being turned back at checkpoints.
3. Lack of international protection: Most of the women affected by displacement struggle to gain recognition as refugees and are often unaware of their right to alternative forms of protection.
4. Increased vulnerability: Migration exacerbates existing inequalities and risks, especially for women and girls.
5. Underrecording: There is a lack of comprehensive statistical data documenting the situation by country.

Numerous interviews and press reports have highlighted the growing impact of insecurity on women’s mobility across various regions of the Americas. Examples include:

• The mass exodus reported in the Caribbean, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Suriname.
• The migration of 800 Mexicans to Guatemala in 2024 to escape cartel violence.
• The displacement of over 2,000 people from Apure (Venezuela) to Colombia due to clashes between the Venezuelan army and FARC dissidents in 2021.
• The flight of almost 1,000 Colombians to Venezuela in January 2025 following hostilities in Catatumbo.

Such incidents are becoming increasingly common and underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive political and humanitarian response.

Persistent cycles of violence

The risks and forms of violence that migrant women face in their countries of origin often persist during transit and after arrival in the destination countries. This is just one of the many consequences of the transnational expansion and growing influence of armed groups. Some examples are:

• Venezuelan women attempting to escape blackmail and sexual violence at the hands of groups such as the ELN in the Venezuelan states of Apure, Zulia, and Bolívar continue to face the same dangers at border crossings and in the Colombian regions where those groups are also active.
• The murder rate among Venezuelan migrant women in Colombia increased by more than 300 percent between 2017 and 2024, highlighting the worsening security situation in different host regions.
• Migrant women from many countries are affected by femicide, human trafficking, and gender-based violence during transit and on arrival in their host countries. This violence often results in them returning to their country of origin or opting for new, more dangerous migration routes such as crossing the Darién Gap.

Regional cooperation

Limiting the influence of armed and criminal groups, as well as protecting and supporting migrant women, is not just a state obligation, but also an opportunity to generate benefits for all involved. Guaranteeing migrant women’s right to security strengthens institutions and their legitimacy in the regions affected.

The following measures can support the development of a coordinated multi-actor alliance to protect migrant women:

• Involving the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC): Promoting sustainable multilateral actions.
• Strengthening preventive measures: Developing programmes for violence prevention and self-protection among migrants.
• Promoting regional agreements: Preparing protocols for the prevention, prosecution and punishment of violence and crime.
• Guaranteeing access to justice: Ensuring effective access to justice for migrant women, for instance through laws such as Colombia’s Law No. 2124 adopted in 2024.
• Facilitating information exchange: Establishing mechanisms for sharing best practices among security forces, prosecutors’ offices, and organisations dedicated to the protection of migrant women.
• Improving data collection: Developing monitoring and data collection systems to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Promoting women’s leadership: Ensuring active participation and effective leadership of migrant women in policy making and programmes.
• Training key actors: Enhancing capacity to identify, prevent, and respond to violence and human trafficking.
• Creating comprehensive protection mechanisms: Access to shelter, medical care, psychological support, legal advice as well as sexual and reproductive health services for migrant women and girls.
• Reforming the security sector: Promoting greater transparency and accountability within state security forces.

These measures are aimed at ensuring the safety and dignity of migrant women and enhancing the effectiveness of regional protection strategies.