Report on the SACBC Meeting on Migration, Refugees, and Human Trafficking
The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) recently convened a multi-day meeting addressing migration, pastoral care, and the Church’s response to human trafficking. The gathering brought together clergy, religious, lay leaders, and representatives from civil society organizations, with discussions structured around pastoral, theological, and legal dimensions of migration in Southern Africa. Opening Reflections Sr. Neide Lamperti (SACBC) welcomed participants and noted that materials were available...
Human Trafficking in Africa: Patterns, Drivers, and Responses
This year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons draws attention to the persistence of sex trafficking across Africa, where organized crime, systemic inequality, and weak institutional capacity converge to create conditions of exploitation. Evidence indicates that women and girls are disproportionately affected, with risks amplified by poverty, entrenched gender norms, limited legal protections, and climate-induced displacement. Trafficking networks exploit porous borders and increasingly operate through digital platforms, while state responses often remain under-resourced and fragmented. ...
The Perfect Storm: Why Central and Western Africa Are Experiencing Record Displacement
“We are seeing that, overall, more and more people are on the move.” Luis de Freitas, leader of the regional data hub in Dakar for the IOM
SIHMA Pays Tribute to Pope Francis: A Legacy of Compassion and Justice
SIHMA, the Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa, is deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Catholics around the world. In a world often divided by borders and ideologies, there are figures who transcend barriers, weaving a narrative of hope, compassion, and humanity. Pope Francis was such a figure. His papacy lit the darkest corners of society, embracing the sidelined and uniting millions under the banner...
Remembering the Sharpeville Massacre: Protecting the Rights of Child Migrants in South Africa
As we commemorate Human Rights Day in South Africa, we remember the tragic events of the Sharpeville massacre on March 21, 1960. On that day, police opened fire on a crowd of protesters, killing 249 people, including 29 children (Lodge, 2011). Today, we honor the memories of those child victims by reflecting on the progress of children's rights in South Africa, particularly for child migrants.
South Africa Ramps Up Border Security: New Measures to Reduce Irregular Immigration
The South African government has decided to improve border security by enhancing and integrating technological systems and adding more law enforcement officers to combat irregular migration and human trafficking and the government has introduced stricter enforcement policies, improved surveillance, and improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms. It is noted that about 672 Border Law Enforcement Officers have been added to high-risk entry points such as land crossings, maritime borders, and international airports
