Migration Expert Calls for Comprehensive Solutions to Forced Migration Challenges in Africa
Associate Professor Jo Vearey, Director of the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) at the University of the Witwatersrand and current Director of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence on Migration & Mobility, has called for immediate strategies to address the complex issues of forced migration across Africa.
Prof. Vearey delivered her insights during the first session of the 2024 Refocus: An Online Summer Forced Migration in Africa Workshop Series. This session aims to develop knowledge and critical thinking on forced migration and protection issues in Africa while training early career and emerging scholars.
Speaking on the topic "The contemporary role of the Global Refugee Regime in Africa," Vearey highlighted the necessity of holistic approaches, stating, "Forced migration requires comprehensive strategies that cover social, economic, and political aspects."
The public health researcher focusing on migration and health in the southern African region and globally further elaborated those effective responses to forced migration challenges demand coordinated efforts across various sectors and regions. “It is important that we collectively take steps to address root causes and implement sustainable solutions to ensure the well-being and protection of forcibly displaced individuals and communities,” Prof. Vearey stressed.
During the session, Dr. Kudakwashe Vanyoro, a Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, shed light on the barriers hindering refugees' access to rights and services in host countries, stressing the importance of inclusive policies and practices. "Refugees often face discrimination and obstacles that impede their integration and well-being," noted Dr Vanyoro.
Prof. Loren Landau, a Professor of Migration and Development at the Oxford Department of International Development and Research Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand’s African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) in Johannesburg, South Africa, highlighted the significance of regional approaches in enhancing refugee protection in Africa.
The Co-director of the Wits-Oxford Mobility Governance Lab called for collaborative frameworks to complement global initiatives. "Regional cooperation and coordination are essential to address the unique needs and challenges of African refugees," Prof. Landau emphasized.
Elena Habersky, Project Coordinator for the Dialogue on Migration Governance (DiaMiGo) at the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies, American University in Cairo, Egypt, and Amira Hetaba-Sabry, a Civil Servant in Legal Affairs for the Government of Lower Austria and former Research Officer at the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies, American University in Cairo, Egypt, provided insights into specific regional responses, focusing on Egypt's approach to refugee issues. Their presentations illuminated key considerations in refugee governance and highlighted areas for policy refinement and enhancement.
Dr. Tamuka Chekero, a Zimbabwean Anthropologist based in South Africa with a research focus on mobility and conviviality among migrants from African countries, rounded off the session by addressing contemporary issues in forced migration.
He advocated for holistic solutions driven by collaboration among stakeholders. "Addressing forced migration necessitates collective action and innovative strategies that prioritize the rights and well-being of displaced populations," Dr. Chekero affirmed.
The Refocus: An Online Summer Forced Migration in Africa Workshop Series is an educational initiative aimed at enhancing knowledge and critical thinking on forced migration and protection issues in Africa. It also provides training for early career and emerging scholars in this field.
The workshop is run and hosted by the Refugee Law Initiative at the University of London and the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of Ghana, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the African Centre for Migration & Society at the University of the Witwatersrand, and the African Academy of Migration Research (AAMR). This year's series, themed "Forced Migration and Regionalism in Africa Today," focuses on the intersection of forced migration and regional cooperation within the African context.