Only One Home (UnaSolaCasa) Humanity’s Response to the Test of Covid-19
At the end of March 2020, in the midst of the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Scalabrinian Missionaries for the Europe and Africa region, through the Scalabrinian Agency for Cooperation and Development (ASCS), have promoted in their regional network of missionary positions and initiatives (Scalabrini International Migration Network - regional SIMN) through a campaign to raise awareness and funds to primarily support migrants and refugees as "neighbours", who are suffering under the pandemic, due...
A migrant is born
We have, over the centuries, done a great disservice to the Biblical challenge of Christmas. We have sadly reduced it to shiny tinsel, Christmas trees, strings of fairy lights and mince pies. All of which are fine in their own way but all of which also blunt us to the sharp challenge of the first Christmas and the politics that that commits us to. This is true for the poor, for the marginalised, for the peoples whose stories...
Refugee Status? Included in or Excluded from Refugee Protection?
SIHMA’s new research paper series is coming out this December 2020 entitled the Advocates’ Migration Brief and addresses recent judicial decisions relating to people on the move. The first paper in the series convers an aspect of international and domestic refugee law being exclusion from refugee status. In the refugee status determination process, it is important to establish whether a person falls within the definition of a refugee to receive protection from the host state. Some individuals though...
Exclusion of migrant women | Access to health care
Continuing the Series on Migrant Women. In the first edition of SIHMA’s series on the exclusion of migrant women, we discussed the particular lack of access to the labour market and the exclusion of migrant women from labour-related policy making (1). This second article addresses the even more intimate issue that is physical and mental well-being and access to health services. Indeed reports, such as the 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) reports entitled...
Covid-19, tourism and migration in Africa
Covid-19 has forced countries all over the world to impose travel restrictions and social distancing measures, leading to the shutdown of hospitality and tourism operations with the consequences of drastically reducing migration and tourism worldwide. The South African Department of Tourism annually runs a Tourism Month campaign in the month of September, culminating with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) World Tourism Day on September 27th, making it a good time for SIHMA to address the impact...
Heritage Day and Migrants’ History in South Africa - Interview with Dezz van Niekerk (Part 2)
Happy Heritage Day! On September 24th, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day! Through events all over the country, this day recognises, celebrates, and remembers the cultural diversity and heritage of all people in South African society. Heritage Day is a celebration that is quite specific to South Africa. Only a few countries around the world celebrate their cultural heritage and traditions in a national celebration, mainly in the Americas and the Caribbean – such as National Heritage Day in Turks...
