About Us

Our network is comprised of members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), refugee and migrant organisations. We collectively advocate for the rights of refugees and migrants in Southern Africa. SAMIN was birthed at a consultative conference organised by two of our member organisations, Africa Unite and the African Diaspora Forum, with the support of the CCFD Terre Solidaire from 17-19 May 2019 at the Parktonian Hotel by Marriott in Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants included CSOs from Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo; Malawi; Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe as well as individual migrants living in South Africa. Our network has grown from strength to strength with more CSOs and individual migrants joining us from Angola, Botswana, and Namibia.

We are guided by the objectives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which, among others, are to achieve economic development, peace and security, growth, alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the people of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration.

We are committed to the achievement of key international and regional development goals aimed at sustainable social and economic development including the Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) and the Africa Union Agenda 2063 that advocates for the free movement of people as part of the continental integration agenda.

We acknowledge that Southern Africa has a long history of population movements for more than one hundred and fifty years (both voluntary and forced). Mobility has been a central and defining feature of the region’s politics, economy and culture. Most SADC Member States are shrewdly strafing improved migration, exerting efforts on control and exclusion. Many continue to view migration as a threat, not an opportunity as they are not well prepared or capacitated to respond to sustained flows of migrants.

Our view is that development of a solid network of relevant organisations within SADC member states and other regional bodies in Africa is essential. We therefore strive to establish partnerships and promote complementary service delivery and the establishment of linkages between local service providers and the international community so as to aid in local capacity-building and assist in promoting the regional migration agenda.

Objectives

To hold SADC governments accountable to develop and implement human rights based migration laws and practices.

To strengthen collaboration and networking of different stakeholders in migration issues.

To influence and encourage the implementation of policies and regulations that will lead to the attainment of the African Union Agenda 2063.

To lobby SADC governments to ratify, domesticate and implement international legal instruments pertaining to migration.

To improve capacity and knowledge management in migration issues across the board.

To relentlessly advocate for the safety and security of migrants in spaces where they are.

Core Pillars

Research & Documentation

To work with academia to develop research for advocacy and documentation of the state of migration and challenges in free cross border migration.

Lobbying & Advocacy

Supported by concrete research, to advocate and lobby for equal recognition and treatment of both migrants and citizens of host countries. Further to advocate for elimination of the root causes of forced migration.

Dissemination of information

To bridge the information gaps that exist about migration in all levels of society including migration officials, security agencies and stakeholders that deal with migration issues.

Share good practices and networking

To address capacity and ensure impactful efforts that seek to improve migration in the SADC region.