Death at sea: migration and the gendered dimensions of border insecurity

This chapter focuses on the lack of reliable data on irregular migration and border-related deaths. It outlines the gendered dimensions of irregularly crossing borders from Syria and via the Mediterranean to Europe by comparing it to other key border sites - notably women fleeing Myanmar and asylum-seeking women travelling to Australia. Large-scale irregular migration to Europe, particularly through established Mediterranean Sea routes, is not a new phenomenon. The examples of the current European migrant crisis, the recent Andaman Sea migrant crisis in South East Asia and border deaths in the Australian context are used as case studies to exemplify gender-based risks and associated border deaths in three unique border crossing contexts. The increase in the number of women and girls travelling to Europe in the crisis prompts an assessment and understanding of the particular risks, vulnerabilities and gender-related circumstances they face during their migration journey.