SIHMA | Scalabrini Institute For Human Mobility In Africa

Tag: Birth Registration

Statelessness in South Africa


Apr 15, 2025
Categories: international conventions systemic discrimination legal identity marginalized communities SANIR advocacy UNHCR Gauteng High Court ruling Primrose Modisane case citizenship barriers birth registration refugee children South Africa nationality laws

According to the United Nations, “stateless persons are individuals who are not recognised as nationals by any state under the operation of its law” (UNHCR, 2022). This lack of nationality means stateless individuals are often denied the most fundamental human rights including access to education, healthcare, legal employment, and even the right to marry. The UNHCR estimates that 4.4 million people around the world are currently...

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Good news for children of undocumented foreign parents and guardians for their admission into South African schools


Feb 04, 2025
Categories: Migrants Migration in Africa Migration Policies Rights SCCT SIHMA Statelessness wellbeing

CHILDREN of undocumented foreign nationals will not be required to produce any form of identification before registering for admission at any school in South Africa. For decades, undocumented children have been largely excluded from the education system, left on the margins by restrictive policies and legislative gaps. Recent developments signal a monumental shift towards a more inclusive approach, harmonizing South Africa’s laws with international standards and reinforcing undocumented immigrant children's right to basic education.

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