Social protection is a universal human right and a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While this right unequivocally applies to migrants, irrespective of migration status, migrant women in particular often remain excluded.

Against this backdrop, this policy brief discusses the barriers that migrant women face in accessing social protection and provides recommendations for States to meet their obligation to overcome these, particularly in relation to health care, maternity protection and essential services for victims and survivors of violence. It points to a range of positive actions that can be taken, including the creation of a supportive legal and regulatory framework, the design and implementation of policies and services that are responsive to the needs of migrant women and the separation of service provision from immigration enforcement activities.