South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host a two-day National Conference on Human Rights, Border Management and Responsible Migration in Johannesburg from Tuesday.
The gathering forms part of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to promote, protect and monitor human rights in SA, amid ongoing debate over migration and its social and economic impact.
SAHRC Spokesperson Wisan Baloyi said the Commission has received a number of complaints relating to migration and its intersection with human rights.
“The Commission, in line with its mandate to promote and protect human rights, has monitored and received a number of complaints on migration and its impact on human rights. Challenges such as open borders, crime, high unemployment rates, access to healthcare services and access to education have dominated the public discourse for some time,” Baloyi said.
He said the conference seeks to create a platform for meaningful engagement between the Commission and stakeholders on what he described as complex, multi-sectoral challenges facing the country.
The event will also examine the root causes of migration and adopt a solution-oriented approach to addressing both push and pull factors, with the aim of strengthening coordinated responses at national, regional and international levels.
Participants are expected to include representatives from diplomatic missions, government departments, civil society, business and international organisations.
–ChannelAfrica–
