Since Venezuela’s economy imploded in 2015, some 5.5 million people have fled to neighboring countries like Colombia and Peru. Today, more than 1.7 million migrants from Venezuela are living in Colombia, of whom 55% do not have legal status. These migrants are primarily arriving in areas of Colombia affected by decades of armed conflict and complex levels of poverty, and in which harmful gender norms and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) are widespread.
Liudmarian recalls arriving at the Colombian-Venezuelan border and feeling a sense of panic. “When I arrived in Táchira, I started to panic because I remembered all the stories of women experiencing abuse or disappearing on the migration journey,” she said. “But I went ahead with my suitcase, holding my two small children and praying to God nothing would happen to us.”
Migrants and refugees like Liudmarian face challenges in accessing healthcare because of legal status, discrimination, and misinformation on the availability of services.
“When I arrived in Colombia, I needed reproductive health services, but I was undocumented and assumed I didn’t have the right to get help or that I would have to pay a high cost for the services,” said Liudmarian.
Forced migration is considered one of the key social determinants of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). During the journey and within humanitarian settings like conflict-affected areas, migrants, especially women and girls, experience xenophobia and all forms of sexual, psychological, and physical violence.
Quality SRH is important for maintaining a person’s general health and wellbeing. SRH services can cover a broad spectrum of care, including maternal and newborn care, access to contraception and family planning, and the prevention and treatment of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
Alba Quintero, a psychologist with Heartland Alliance International (HAI) in Colombia, believes that connecting migrants with culturally competent care is crucial. “Thousands of women live in fear – on the streets, at work, and in their own homes. Violence is everywhere, and it tends to worsen in emergency situations. For this reason, providing healthcare is critical for the migrant population.”
HAI works to bring health services directly to the people that need it most. And sometimes, that means during migration and on the ‘trails.’ As HAI Gender Specialist Ivon Robles sees it, our SRH services are more than just direct care – it’s about increasing equity and access.
“In partnership with Profamilia, we ensure women know their rights, are able to make informed decisions about their bodies, and lead healthy sexual and reproductive lives,” said Ivon. “Being a woman and a migrant during a global health emergency shouldn’t mean that your health takes a back seat. But as we’ve all seen, this pandemic has exposed the wide inequities that persist.”
In response to the unprecedented levels of migration, the government of Colombia made important changes and updates to the legal framework governing migrant status. Now, migrants can obtain a new legal status called Special Permit of Permanence, or PEP in Spanish. However, much remains uncertain for Venezuelan migrants in Colombia. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 99% of people with PEP continue to lack adequate access to services, including healthcare.
This reality, coupled with COVID-19, has worsened the health outcomes of migrants in Colombia. In addition to lacking access to care, a migrant’s vulnerable status makes it nearly impossible to observe public health guidelines necessary to withstand the pandemic. COVID-19 and the accompanying restrictions disproportionately affect women and girls in multiple ways, including increased exposure to SGBV.
“When you’re forced to move to a new place, you probably don’t know much about the health systems or services available. And, as women and mothers, we tend to take on the role of caretaker, neglecting our own health and only focusing on the family’s needs.”
Every individual has the right to make their own choices about their health. That’s why HAI, together with Profamilia, strives to improve health services for migrants and refugees in Colombia. We want to ensure that everyone, no matter when and where, has the opportunity to maintain good health and wellbeing.
“Today, my physical and mental health have improved because I got the help I needed. I was also able to establish important legal documents. I hope that through my story other migrants will be able to enjoy their human rights.”
