Deputy Home Affairs Minister Fatima Chohan will today Sunday, 19 June 2011 present a keynote address at a World Refugee Day commemoration event in Soweto, Gauteng.
World Refugee Day will be commemorated around the world on Monday, 20 June 2011 and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Deputy Minister Chohan will address the topic of “South Africa’s Migration Policies,” at an event organised under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by amongst others, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Consortium of Refugees and Migrants in South
Africa, SAMAWA, the Coordinating Body for Refugee Communities, the Refugee Ministries Centre, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the Southern African Women Institute for Migration Affairs, Blacksash, and Sonker Gender Justice Network.
South Africa, as a signatory to the Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol is also a member of the Executive Committee of UNHCR.Government is therefore committed to fulfilling its international commitments to those who legitimately seek protection from persecution in our country.
In this regard, and as the largest recipient of individual asylum seekers in the world, the Department of Home Affairs in 2010 took to Parliament an amendment to the Refugees Act of 1998. These amendments were unanimously endorsed by both Houses of Parliament earlier this year and are intended to streamline the processes of application for asylum by making it more efficient, easy and credible for those who seek our protection.
As part of World Refugee Day commemoration events, Deputy Minister Chohan will also on Monday, 20 June 2011 address an event in Yeoville, Johannesburg organised by the Refugee Help Desk.
Media programme for Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan as part of World Refugee Day commemorations.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
13h00: Deputy Minister Chohan to address World Refugee Commemoration Event organised under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by amongst others, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Consortium of Refugees and Migrants in South Africa, SAMAWA, the Coordinating Body for Refugee Communities, the Refugee Ministries Centre, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the Southern African Women Institute for Migration Affairs, Blacksash, and Sonke Gender Justice Network
Venue: St Martin’s Catholic Church, 9306 Ngobese Street Orlando West, Soweto
(Please RSVP)
Contact: Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Monday, 20 June 2011
12h00: Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan to address World Refugee Commemoration Event organised by the Refugee Help Desk
Venue: Yeoville Recreation Centre, Yeoville, Johannesburg
(Please RSVP)
Contact: Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Enquiries:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
