SIHMA at the "Conflict and Human Displacement" Conference of the University of Oslo
On Monday, October 28th, Fr. Filippo Ferraro, our director, presented a keynote address at the “Conflict and Human Displacement” conference organized by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo. The event was part of the "Migration, Ethics, and Theology" webinar series, a collaboration between the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI) in Rome and scholars involved in the Nordhost project on migration and hospitality within a Nordic context. This webinar series builds on...
"We Made This!": a Video Documentary on the Journey and Difficulties of Children on the Move
We are proud to share with you the “We Made This!” video. The video was shown during the “The Need to Belong: Pathways Towards Durable Solutions” conference, which we held, together with the Scalabrini Center of Cape Town and the Commissioner for Children in the Western Cape, between the 25th and 27th September 2024.
Migration on the Rise: Examining the South Africa-Zimbabwe Corridor in 2024
In recent months, the South Africa-Zimbabwe migration corridor has seen a remarkable surge in movement. According to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in July 2024 the corridor recorded 32,309 movements, constituting 92% of all migration flows across Zimbabwe's official border points. The sharp rise in these figures underscores the persistent socio-economic challenges driving Zimbabweans across the Limpopo River into South Africa in search of better opportunities. The South Africa-Zimbabwe corridor is one of Africa’s busiest,...
Operation Vala Umgodi shows the ties between irregular migration and irregular mining, but should migrants be criminalized?
Operation Vala Umgodi exposes the connections between irregular migration and the coercion of migrants in South African mines. Launched earlier this year, it has led to the arrest of hundreds for the illegal extraction of minerals. Though initially aimed at curbing illegal mining, the operation has revealed deep ties between the extractive sector — especially the informal one — and the trafficking of migrants into South Africa. While effective in combating illegal mining, the treatment of...
Identity vs. Perception: the case of Chidimma Adetshina and South African opinion on migrants
The case of Chidimma Adetshina, who came under national scrutiny between August and September, sheds light on the levels of xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiment in South Africa. The 23-year-old model—born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and South African mother—was forced to withdraw from the "Miss South Africa" competition due to online abuse and the wave of hatred that followed her entry into the...
SIHMA Press Review for September 2024
PRESS REVIEW – SOUTH AFRICA 01 Beauty queen row exposes xenophobia towards immigrants in South Africa Rachel Savage, The Guardian, 09/07/2024 Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old Nigerian-South African, withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition after facing xenophobic backlash due to her Nigerian heritage. Despite living in South Africa since birth, her nationality was questioned, leading her to drop out amid safety concerns. She later won Miss Universe Nigeria. Her experience highlights the xenophobia faced...
