I think the most important thing to be done to combat sexual violence against migrants is to give them a voice. When migrants come to a new country, especially if they have not obtained paperwork or legal citizenship, many feel like they cannot go to the proper authorities even after they have been sexually assaulted. Undocumented migrants can be deported or reported if they make themselves known to any sort of authorities. Even those who are documented may fear for their own job security or even undocumented family members. Most migrants wish to remain inconspicuous, and reporting sexual violence brings unwelcome attention to themselves and their families. This system enables predatory people and sexual violence committed against migrants. Predators are more likely to committ heinous acts when they are not afraid of the consequences of being reported, tried, and jailed. Migrants, both undocumented and with citizenship, need to be listened to, respected, and protected. A system of these actions could, in time, decrease the high rate of sexual violence committed against migrants.

The perception of a migrant often contributes to a variety of social problems they have to deal with. Often migrants are viewed as people who are undereducated and thus in a position of vulnerability. Although the vast majority of migrants are legal workers, when it comes to those moving between countries where cultures, skin colour or languages are distinctly different from those commonly understood, then the overall social perception is one where such people are often viewed as something close to ‘legitimate’ targets. It is also difficult for these same people to access assistance even where it is available because they have little local knowledge. Media is often at the forefront of promoting migrants as deprived people of limited intelligence and this often feeds native aggression toward migrants. Many politicians also use migrants as a tool to stir up animosity toward incomers and fuel electorate fears founded in the unknown. Sexual violence toward migrants can be through organised crime, affecting men, women and children, or it can be directed at an individual on a personal level.

Ignorance drives much of the sexual aggression toward migrants and to mitigate the issues education is needed. This, however, neither sells newspapers nor does it get politicians re-elected. The problems then would appear to begin at the top and punishments for sexual offences against migrants must be seen to be compatible with those which are applied to the native population. This should also be combined with education not only for offenders but also within schools in an effort to mitigate the severity of the problems in future.