According to the United Nations, every 60 seconds 20 people - somewhere in the world - leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. In 2018 World Refugee Day is commemorated against  a backdrop of approximately 68 million refugees  and internally displaced people across the world.  South Africa currently hosts approximately 91 043 refugees and 218 299 asylum seekers, from countries across the continent.

In September 2016, in response to  the unprecedented migration of refugees from the Syrian crisis and the continued migrant flows to Europe from North Africa across the Mediterranean, global leaders pledged to work towards a Global Compact for refugees, which expresses the political will of leaders to protect the rights of refugees and migrants, to save lives and to share responsibility for large movements. The aim of this declaration is to ensure that every refugee child gets an education, that every refugee family has somewhere safe to live, and that every refugee can work or learn new skills to support their families.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC or Commission) fully supports this campaign and urges everyone to sign the petition, #With Refugees at www.withrefugees.org as a sign of support. The SAHRC reiterates calls for South Africa, as a signatory to key international conventions on refugees, to ensure that the rights of refugees are respected, that social cohesion is promoted and that there is tolerance and peaceful co-existence among refugees and host communities.

Despite South Africa’s commitment to these key international conventions, many refugees face xenophobia and other forms of prejudice and are thus unable to fully integrate into the society. Refugees today have difficulties regularising their status due to the inefficient processes in place. This negatively impacts their rights to dignity, right to access education, health care and employment.   

The South African Human Rights Commission calls on the government to comply with all international and regional treaty obligations and to do all within its power to alleviate the plight of refugees. The Commission also calls upon the people of South Africa to embrace the spirit of ubuntu and extend a hand of friendship and empathy to all who find themselves as displaced people. As stated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres: “We should all strive to build bridges of solidarity rather than walls of division.”

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Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission
Gail Smith – Spokesperson Tel: 060 988 3792 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.