Migrants
Nsikelelo and Samkelisiwe are siblings with albinism. They recently joined their mother, Enough Sihlongonyane, in South Africa, where she migrated from Eswatini. In South Africa, people with albinism are among the country’s most marginalized and vulnerable citizens, yet very little attention is paid to protect them from human rights abuses. Until recently, albinism has not been seen as a disability, but calls from the albinism community are growing for it to be classified as such. There have been reports in South Africa, and a number of other African countries, of people with albinism being murdered for their body parts, to be used in witchcraft rituals.
Migrants contribute their knowledge, networks, and skills to build stronger, more resilient communities. During the past months, migrants have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. However, like many who find themselves living on the margins of society, migrants are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 through job losses, evictions and discrimination. The pandemic cannot an excuse to rollback commitments to protect the rights of migrants regardless of their legal status. On #MigrantsDay (18 December), let’s reaffirm our commitment to safe and dignified migration for all.