Deputy Home Affairs Minister Fatima Chohan will lead a South African government delegation to the inaugural Ministerial Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) on “Managing Migration through Regional Cooperation: Harnessing the Benefits and Minimising the Risks of Migration,” in Windhoek, Namibia scheduled from Monday, 15 November to Tuesday, 16 November 2010.
Southern African Development (SADC) has prioritised the free movement of people within the region with a view to supporting and promoting the efforts of the African Union which encourages free movement of persons in African Regional Economic Communities as a stepping stone towards free movement of persons in an eventual African Economic Community.
The Dialogue, organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) aims to promote mutually beneficial migration management for migrants and host communities alike by creating partnerships at the highest levels and sharing good practices of governmental and non-governmental initiatives to harness migration benefits for the SADC region.
In this regard, Deputy Minister Chohan is expected to share South Africa’s experiences in reviewing its current immigration policy framework.An Immigration Amendment Bill to this effect has already been introduced into Parliament.
Delegates are also expected to deliberate on the migration management in the region, including challenges and opportunities, the facilitation of movement of people in the region, as well as the future of the migration dialogue for southern Africa.Sessions will therefore be held on the following:
- migration management: maximising the benefits and minimising the challenges
- migration management for the benefit of all
- regional cooperation: mechanisms, best practices and the way forward and
- regional cooperation: next steps.
The dialogue will conclude with an action framework on migration management issues within between SADC countries which is expected to contribute towards enhanced cooperation between in the region.
Deputy Minister Chohan is expected to arrive in South Africa on Thursday, 19 November 2010.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
