The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre for Human Rights), cordially invites community leaders, school principals and teachers, leaders of faith-based organisations, representatives of grassroots organisations working in the area of refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants, and hospital staff, to participate in a community dialogue in Cape Town, South Africa.
Venue: Cape Town Lodge, Cape Town, South Africa
Date: 29 August 2023
Time: 9:00 am - 4: 00 pm
Background
The rights of refugees and asylum seekers, and other migrants are recognised under South African and international law. However, there are significant challenges that impede the realisation of their rights in South Africa. One of the challenges is the pervasive nature of xenophobic discrimination and the recurrent incidence of xenophobic violence against refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in South Africa. One of the causes of xenophobic discrimination and violence is misinformation and negative stereotypes about immigrants. Popular anti-migrant myths create and sustain ‘enemy images’ about migrants and are exploited by some politicians to gain political mileage at the expense of migrants. As South Africa moves closer to the 2024 general election, conversations that address anti-migrant myths are important to protect refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in South Africa.
Against this backdrop, the Centre for Human Rights, in partnership with the European Union Delegation in South Africa, seeks to host a community dialogue engaging community leaders and other local actors in dialogue, with the aim of dispelling anti-migrant myths and stereotypes.
The community dialogue seeks to identify popular narratives about migrants at the community level and dispel negative narratives through informed dialogue. Through multicultural engagement, the dialogue will promote social cohesion by addressing anti-migrant attitudes. It also seeks to empower participants with advocacy skills and facilitate their active involvement in promoting solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in their communities.
Expected Outcomes
Participants of the community dialogue will gain a better understanding of the flaws in popular anti-migrant myths and stereotypes, understand key issues in migration, the rights of migrants, and the significance of solidarity with migrants, and be able to conduct migrants’ rights advocacy at the community level.
To confirm your participation, please send an email to
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abiy.ashenafi@up.ac.za by Friday 11 August 2023. Further information will be provided to confirmed attendees.
For more information, please contact:
