Last week celebrated International Women's Day. The European Parliament has dedicated this day to women refugees in the EU. Displaced, a project showcased by French photojournalist Marie Dorigny, is currently on display at the European Parliament. It gives a pictorial account of all the stages of the gruelling journey undertaken by women refugees in Europe. A similar exhibition is on display at the Malta Parliament. Marie Dorigny travelled to Greece, the Former Republic of Macedonia and Germany. In her account she says that many arrive by boat to Greece, then travel by train across several countries, finally arriving in Germany where their asylum requests are processed.

Mary Honeyball, a UK Member of European Parliament, has drafted a resolution which sets out a comprehensive EU wide strategy for asylum seekers and women refugees. This was approved in plenary in Strasbourg on 8 March, the day that marked International Women's Day. As we are all aware, the number of men, women and children seeking international protection in the EU as a result of ongoing conflicts, regional instability and human rights violations is fast increasing. Women and children need protection. They are continuously facing violence, not only in their home country, but also during their flight to freedom, very often from smugglers and traffickers and sometimes also from other refugees. It is a violent situation in itself. Women are vulnerable, particularly if they are on their own. There is no gender neutrality in asylum and Ms Honeyball believes that the needs of women refugees have been overlooked for too long.

Unfortunately, the degree of gender inequality for asylum applicants across the EU is on the rise; women account, on average, for one third of people who apply for asylum. During the period between January 2015 to November 2015 some 900 000 people crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe's coasts. 38 % of these were women and children. As from January 2016 it has been estimated that women and children account for 55 % of those reaching Greece to seek a new life in the EU. Sadly, many lives were lost during these journeys of hope. Many of them were women.

Marie Dorigny witnessed many women and children crossing. Most of them speak regional dialects, many of which are difficult to translate. Many do not speak English and there is a lack of translators in transit camps. Mary Honeyball says that translation is an essential tool that the EU should work upon. There is also need for female interviewers and interpreters.

Ms Dorigny photographed pregnant women travelling by boat from Turkey, many fainting on arriving on the beach as a result of fear and stress, others carrying babies in their arms.

When asked what facilities and services should be provided for women by the Member States, Ms Honeyball said that trauma counselling is an absolute essential for women who have experienced some form of violence during their flee from conflict and persecution is a necessity. She goes on to say that language lessons and childcare are also essential, because not all women want their children to hear what they have to say in their asylum interviews. Women interviewers and interpreters are also desperately needed. In her report Ms Honeyball also calls for proper and secure sanitation and sleeping facilities.

Ms Honeyball insists that there is the need to raise awareness, to educate the people and make them understand what is going on. This may lead to improvements.

I personally visited the exhibition. It left me, so to speak, dumbstruck. It is the work of a photographer who was an eye-witness to these grim circumstances. I feel she captured the most intense of scenes. The sadness on the women's faces, their pain, the agony. Each and every photograph says a story, and very often a sad one. One particular photo struck me. That of a mother feeding her young child. Her expression is that of exhaustion, fear, extreme sadness. This woman left everything behind her in search of freedom, in search of a new life, for her and for her young child. There she was, waiting at Passau Station in Germany for the train that would take her and her young child to her host town.   

We are all aware of the fact that all refugees face extreme hardship but it is women and girls who are among the most vulnerable of those travelling to the EU in search of protection from war, human rights abuses and deprivation. They are often the victim of violence and discrimination because of their gender.

Stephanie Mizzi took up residence in Brussels in 2010, and has been working as Parliamentary File Manager in the Directorate for Legislative Acts at the European Parliament since 2013. She has a passion for photography, writing as evidenced through her websitewww.stephaniemizzi.com . She is also a qualified Personal Trainer