Forced migration and reproductive rights: Pregnant women fleeing venezuela

Abstract

Numerous pregnant Venezuelan women have fled Venezuela. To some of them, the health system crisis has increased risk to their lives and their children. Thousands of women have arrived in Colombia in search of reproductive health care. Notwithstanding Colombia’s government efforts to provide some relief measures to the massive influx of Venezuelan migrants, pregnant women are not receiving the prenatal and postnatal care they need. One of the primary barriers to health care access is their immigration status and the health system structure regarding migrants. Considering the major debates related to migrants’ and refugees’ access to health care —such as public health issues and the “magnet,” “free rider,” and health care costs concerns— this paper studies Colombia’s international human rights obligations concerning their immigration status and the right to reproductive health. The research allows concluding that the government measures have been insufficient to meet these obligations.