‘We want to find a better future’: teenage girls on why they risked their lives to reach Spain
More than two dozen teenagers stuck in the Spanish territory of Ceuta shared their reasons for joining the treacherous mass crossing in July
TL;DR
- Teenage girls who arrived in Ceuta during a mass crossing from Morocco are living in an improvised settlement with an uncertain future.
- Their reasons for migrating include a desire for education, career opportunities, and more control over their lives, often due to family expectations or limited prospects in Morocco.
- Common aspirations include finishing education, working, earning money, and achieving financial independence and stability.
- Specific career dreams mentioned include becoming chefs, footballers, nurses, psychologists, or working in intelligence services and hairdressing.
- The girls left Morocco due to interrupted schooling, domestic chores, family conflicts, or restrictions on personal choices like marriage.
- In Morocco, significant gender disparities exist in labor market participation and unpaid domestic work, contributing to the girls' desire for change.
- Immediate needs for the girls in Ceuta include safe accommodation, healthcare, privacy, education, and clear information about their legal status.
- Local authorities have received formal complaints of sexual assault since the mass crossing, with minors among the victims.