MIGRATION-RELATED RISK PERCEPTION AND SAFETY AMONG WOMEN: IMPLICATIONS FOR DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY

JANKOVIĆ Brankica (PhD Candidate, Faculty of International Politics and Security, University Union Nikola Tesla, Belgrade, Serbia), brankicajankovic09@gmail.com
ALAVERDOV Emilia (Professor, Faculty of law and International relations, Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Georgia), alaverdoviemilia07@gtu.ge

Migration is increasingly recognised as a complex risk environment shaped by physical insecurity, institutional fragility, environmental pressures, and socio-economic vulnerability. Within this context, perceptions of migration-related risks and safety play an important role in shaping migration expectations, preparedness, and adaptive behaviour. Existing research indicates that women are often disproportionately exposed to exploitation, legal insecurity, and unsafe migration conditions, particularly in fragile institutional and crisis-prone environments. This study examines migration-related risk perception and safety among women across multiple national contexts within a disaster risk management and human security framework. Drawing on data collected through an anonymous cross-national online survey conducted among female respondents from six African countries, the study explores how age, regional context, and institutional trust shape perceived vulnerability and safety assessments during migration processes. Using descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, and a composite Risk Perception Index (RPI), the research identifies consistently high levels of perceived migration-related risks across all examined contexts. The findings indicate elevated levels of perceived migration-related risks across the examined contexts. Respondents aged 21–30 reported higher levels of perceived vulnerability and lower safety perception compared to older respondents, while respondents from Sub-Saharan African countries reported comparatively higher levels of institutional insecurity and economic vulnerability. The findings reinforce the importance of integrating gender-sensitive perspectives into disaster risk management, migration governance, and human security policies. By situating women’s migration experiences within broader frameworks of vulnerability and resilience, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of migration as a multidimensional risk process and highlights the importance of targeted preventive and protective measures in high-risk migration environments.

Keywords: Migration risks; safety perception; women migrants; human security; disaster risk management.