Migration to Europe: Single women face sexual violence

Esther says she faced sexual violence on her journey to Europe after fleeing abuse in Nigeria.

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She had dreamt of a new life, especially in the UK. Thrown out of a violent and abusive foster home, she had little to stay for. But when she left Lagos in 2016, crossing the desert to Libya, she had little idea of her traumatic journey ahead, forced into sex work and years of asylum claims in country after country.

The majority of irregular migrants and asylum seekers are men - 70% according to the European Agency for Asylum - but the number of women like Esther, who have come to Europe to seek asylum is on the rise.

"We are seeing an increase in women travelling alone, both on the Mediterranean and the Balkan routes," says Irini Contogiannis from the International Rescue Committee in Italy.

Its 2024 report highlighted a 250% annual rise in the number of single adult women arriving in Italy on the Balkan route, while families grew by 52%.