Migrants Exploited: Libya's Human Rights Crisis
The humanitarian crisis in Libya has taken a disturbing turn, with countless foreign nationals, including refugees and asylum-seekers, facing horrific abuses at the hands of traffickers, smugglers, and criminal groups. These individuals are subjected to abductions for ransom, torture, and sexual violence, while religious minorities, particularly Christian migrants and refugees, are vulnerable to persecution by armed groups (Ferrari, 2025). The ongoing crisis has persisted for nearly a decade, and recent reports indicate a resurgence of these inhumane...
Land, Livelihood, and Limited Resources: Uganda’s Refugee Hosting Challenge
Uganda hosts the highest number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Africa, with nearly 1.7 million individuals as of 2024, primarily from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This immense population reflects Uganda's decades-long commitment to providing refuge, underscored by progressive policies aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees. These policies grant refugees land, freedom of movement, and the ability to reside in urban areas if they can support themselves. However, Uganda faces significant challenges,...
SIHMA Press Review for November 2024
PRESS REVIEW – SOUTH AFRICA 01 - South Africa shuts border crossing with Mozambique over poll unrest Wycliffe Muia, BBC News, 11/06/2024 South Africa has closed the Lebombo border crossing with Mozambique amid violent protests following Mozambique's disputed presidential election. The unrest has resulted in torched vehicles and damaged buildings near the border. South African authorities fired rubber bullets and...
SIHMA at the "Conflict and Human Displacement" Conference of the University of Oslo
On Monday, October 28th, Fr. Filippo Ferraro, our director, presented a keynote address at the “Conflict and Human Displacement” conference organized by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo. The event was part of the "Migration, Ethics, and Theology" webinar series, a collaboration between the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI) in Rome and scholars involved in the Nordhost project on migration and hospitality within a Nordic context. This webinar series builds on...
Insights and recommendations from the "The need to belong: pathways towards durable solutions" Conference
Between Wednesday, September 25, and Friday, September 27, we held the conference “The need to belong: pathways towards durable solutions”, focusing on the integration and documentation processes for young migrants and Children on the Move. The event highlighted the challenges related to social and school integration, as well as the acquisition of South African citizenship for unaccompanied minors.
Migrants in South Africa are celebrating Heritage Day, but full integration is still far away
Heritage Day is the national holiday that acknowledges and values cultural differences in South Africa. The choice of date for the celebration is not coincidental: September 24th is recognized as the date of death of King Shaka Zulu, the unifier of the Zulu nation, in 1828. The decision to establish Heritage Day as a national holiday dates back to 1996, when the...
