enhancing girls with migration background to cooperate in women policies in the European Consultative Body for Migrant Girls Civic Engagement
Voices of Change (VOC)
In Europe, the participation of female migrants is increasingly recognized as crucial to their integration into society and political decision-making processes. Young female migrants in particular often face specific barriers that limit their participation in political discussions.
Young female migrants represent a particularly vulnerable group within the migrant population, even though they make up a significant proportion of migration flows to Europe. However, their voices often remain unheard in both decision-making processes and public debates. According to the United Nations, female migrants have unique potential to promote intercultural dialogue, as their experiences of cultural transitions and shared challenges in the migration process give them a special perspective. Nevertheless, young female migrants are often excluded from political participation processes for the following reasons:
- Lack of political representation: In many European countries, political rights are closely linked to citizenship, which excludes young migrants from elections and other democratic mechanisms.
- Structural discrimination: Institutional and legal barriers prevent young migrants from gaining access to positions of power, further limiting their ability to influence political decisions.
- Gender and cultural biases: Discriminatory stereotypes based on gender and culture continue to limit opportunities for female migrants to participate and promote a narrow and marginalizing view of their role in society.
Goals and contents
The Voices of Change (VOC) project aims to strengthen the political participation of migrant women through targeted measures and to create a space in which young migrant women can actively participate in shaping public policies that affect them. As part of the project, a European consultative body for migrant women will be established to promote exchange between migrant women and decision-makers. In addition, training courses will be organized for the members of the body to strengthen their skills in the areas of political participation and social integration. Another focus of the project is the development of policy recommendations to promote the integration of migrant women.
VOC's strength also lies in the collaboration between young migrants and local youth, which promotes intercultural dialogue and social integration. This environment of mutual learning leads to greater understanding between communities and helps young migrants develop practical and leadership skills. These skills are not only crucial for their social and professional integration, but also for their future as active and informed European citizens.
News
Progress on the VOC project: From training courses to EU-wide initiatives
The VOC – Voices of Change project has made steady progress in recent months. On March 13, 2025, we successfully completed 13 online training courses that provided participants with practical tools to strengthen their voices and improve their participation in political life.
In September, we completed the first draft of the recommendations for action. These were developed during five online meetings in which migrant women shared their life experiences and, together with the consortium, proposed concrete solutions to the challenges of inclusion they face in their host countries.
Our next milestone will take place on December 1, 2025, when we will hold a final online meeting to revise the recommendation document to be submitted to the European Union. This meeting with EU authorities is scheduled for February 4, 2026, at the Parliament's premises in Brussels and will bring together all project partners and participants in the initiative, totaling 126 people.
