Footprints in the Desert Sands: Nurturing Resilience and Identity Amidst Loss – A Reflection on the ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape
At the end of a long day of journeying through the spectacularly beautiful desert landscape somewhere between Botswana and Namibia, we were worn out by the sadness of a message of the passing of a beloved cousin. We stepped into the surprising shade of a stone and thatch building: it was the ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape, a World Heritage Site out there between the horizontal red dunes of the Kalahari. The interior of the building enveloped us in large wall murals...
Stories of Compassion: Transformative Narratives for Understanding and Empathy
When the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition invited me to join their transformative conversation workshop, I did not expect to learn the power of stories of compassion to change voter support for legislation to help migrants, refugees, and the others of our society. The right story could change one’s thinking about outsiders. It struck me that I might bring change by giving stories. If I were to choose a story for a small child, I would find a copy...
National Reconciliation Day 2023: Embracing Unity by Recognizing the Contribution of Migrants, Refugees, and Asylees
As South Africa prepares to mark National Reconciliation Day on 16 December 2023, SIHMA recognizes the vital role of migrants, refugees, and asylees in shaping the narrative of inclusive nation-building. Under the theme "Strengthening unity and social cohesion in a healing nation," this year's celebration provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of all who live in South Africa, including those who have crossed borders in search of peace and prosperity. National Reconciliation Day stands as a testament to the...
December Press Review
International Across the globe, compassion for migrants has given way to cruel, performative politics The Guardian, 12 Nov 2023 The article argues that leaders in various countries, including Britain, Italy, Tunisia, and Pakistan, are using tough immigration policies as a distraction from domestic failures. The focus on performative policymaking, such as deportation schemes and detention centers, is criticized for being more about projecting an image of toughness than addressing the actual complexities of immigration. The author highlights the contradiction between...
The 1969 OAU Refugee Convention – A Vital Pillar for Human Dignity in Africa
As the world faces unprecedented levels of conflict, displacement, and migration, the need to ensure the rights and dignity of asylum seekers and refugees is more urgent than ever. While international discussion of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees intensifies, it is essential to shed light on another legal instrument that plays a critical role in protecting those forced to flee their homes – the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention. In response to new...
“The nexus of human trafficking, asylum seekers and refugees"
“Refugees at Risk: UNDOC uncovers human trafficking at camp in Malawi.” – UNDOC, May 2022. “IOM warns of increased risk of trafficking in persons for people fleeing Ukraine.” – IOM, March 2022. “Girls sold into forced labour. Largest group of trafficking victims identified by IOM in Bangladesh refugee camps” – IOM, October 2018. Human trafficking, or trafficking in persons refers to “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or...
