Promoting Integration by Awareness Raising and Counselling Final Conference Vienna, 29 th of June, 2010 Migrant Women in Hungary Presented by Lídia Balogh MONA Foundation for the Women of Hungary
information service Source of the pictures: Bevándorló Budapest (= Immigrant Budapest ), Budapest: Menedék Foundation, 2009.
General context: Migration is quite a new phenomenon in Hungary (after 1989) The volumen of migration to Hungary is quite moderate Overwhelming majority of migrants are ethnic Hungarians from neighbouring countries Largest visible minority: the Roma (their situation is copmparaple in many aspects to that of migrants in Western countries) NOTE: Roma in Hungary are Hungarian citizens, and are settled down in cities and in villages as well (significant proportion in the most disadvantaged regions of the country).
Demographical overview Proportion in the whole population of Hungary Proportion in areas where their concentrattion is the highest Foreign born population less than 3 % Approx.170 000 with residence permit Approx. 100.000 earned citizenship during the last 20 years approx. 6 % (8th district of Budapest) Roma population approx. 5-7 % 80-100 % (in some villages of the most disadvantaged regions of Hungary) Proportion of children in the whole population of Hungary less than 1 % approx. 15 % (regarding babies born in 2002) Proportion of children in education institutions in areas where their concentration is the highest approx. 4 % (8th district of Budapest) (almost) 100 % (in some villages of the most disadvantaged regions of Hungary, or in unlawfully segregated schools)
Countries of origin Largest group: Ethnic Hungarians from neighbouring countries (70 % of all the migrants and foreign born citizens many of them has now Hungarian citizenship) Second largest group (on a quantitatively lesser scale): Chinese (estimations vary between 5.000 and 15.000) Smaller groups: Vietnamese (approx. 3.000) Arabians (approx. 2.200) Russians (approx. 2.000) Turks and Kurds from Turkey (approx. 1.500) Persians (approx. 1.200) Mongolians (approx. 1.000) Latin-Americans (less than 1.000) Africans (approx. 800) etc.
Economy and immigration in Hungary Motivation: - Economic migration is prevailing, this motivation is followed by - Higher education studies and - Family reunification reasons Education level of migrants: - No precise data available, - In sum not lower than that of the total population. Activity rate of migrants - Higher than that of the total population Labour market segmentation / segregation: - Migrant groups are clearly segmented in terms of the work they perform in the Hungarian labour market - No real vertical segregation
Migrant women in the Hungarian society Low prestige maintenance jobs: performed typically by non-migrants (Note: Roma are often excluded even from low prestige jobs) Healthcare experts: skilled nurses from neighboring countries, mainly ethnic Hungarians (commuting between workplace and home) Elderly care providers, employed by families unskilled, illegal workers from neighboring countries (mainly ethnic Hungarian women from Romania) Homemakers: e.g. Russian women (married to Hungarian men) Prostitution, sexual exploitation typically non-migrant women and girls are involved (Roma are overrepresented
Gender structure of the migrant population Slightly more men (different pattern than that of the non-migrant society) Coming from neighboring countries: about 50% women Coming from (other countries of) the EU: 40% women Coming from outside of Europe: mostly men (except Chinese, Vietnamese and Mongolians)
Identified needs of migrant women Needs for social networks - Some NGOs identified need for informal peer-groups Psychological needs - Post-Trauma Stress Disorder treatment - Self-esteem building, empowerment Special healthcare needs of women - e.g. for victims of female genital mutilation Need for information, knowledge - Information, knowledge on information and knowledge on reproductive rights and on birth control /family planning. - Gender violence issues: awareness raising, information about rights and the available help services
National policies and programs targeting migrant women NO comprehensive national migrant integration strategy (only some limited-scale, isolated policy components) NO policies/programs for migrant women
Programmes and services of NGOs for migrant women Cordelia Foundation: - psychological, medical care for traumatized refugees Smile Association: - Hungarian language and culture course for migrant women - information service Menedék Foundation: - women s clubs at refugee camps and in private shelters - model program to prevent sexual violence in refugee camps - brochure for women about health care rights, domestic violence etc, - seminar for migrant women - individual counseling services for migrant women
Contact: lidia.balogh@gmail.com mona.alapitvany@gmail.com www.mona-hungary.hu