Risks, Threats and Setbacks

The chapter discusses the risks, threats and set-backs girls face through the story of Tigist, who escaped an abusive household and worked as a sex worker on the streets of Addis Ababa. Her narrative shows the different forms of abuse migrant girls may encounter, but also illustrates their resilience. Girls’ lived experiences are discussed within the analytical framework on migration, risks and uncertainties, and vulnerabilities debates. The sources of vulnerability for migrant and refugee girls and young women are multiple: their position as girls and as women, their specific ethnic and national background, their legal situation as foreigners and the absence of parents, guardians or relatives. In addition, the nature of their work, their level of education, and the lack of support from international, national and community organizations, increase their vulnerability. Girls’ experiences in the long-term reveal the extent to which their volatile lives are marked by protracted uncertainty and precariousness.