The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat collaborated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to engage Member States and stakeholders on the route-based approach to strengthen protection and solutions for refugees and migrants in the context of mixed movements, in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, from 03-04 December 2024.
The regional platform aimed to support Member States in managing and responding to mixed movements along migratory routes through a route-based approach. Mixed movements present significant challenges for host, transit and destination countries, necessitating a coordinated and comprehensive approach that addresses both immediate protection needs and long-term solutions.
Specifically, the meeting aimed at:
Reviewing current mixed movement trends and challenges in the SADC Region.
Identifying priorities for more human and effective responses for people on the move.
Promote a coordinated route-based approach to respond more effectively and predictably to the challenges of mixed movements.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Chansa Kapaya, UNHCR Regional Director for Southern Africa, underscored the “need for enhancing data collection and information-sharing frameworks, which is key to the collaborative and multistakeholder approach. Accurate, timely data is not only a tool for evidence-based policymaking but also an enabler of effective responses to the vulnerabilities faced by refugees and migrants”.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs at the SADC Secretariat, Professor Kula I. Theletsane, Senior Officer Public Security, Ms. Kealeboga Moruti, highlighted that the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 indicates the immense development potential of well-managed migration and the SADC Regional Migration Policy Framework 2020-2030 further outlines action plans for mixed movements, offering the Member States a policy direction to manage migration in a safe, dignified and orderly manner.
The meeting, which was attended by Heads of national asylum institutions, national statistics offices, departments of immigration, and foreign affairs from SADC Member States, as well as representatives from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), agreed on, amongst others:
enhance data collection and analysis
prioritise protection and humanitarian assistance and
strengthening partnerships and regional coordination platform for mixed movements.
