Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town

25/08/2026

A week of regional conversations on protection, children and human rights

Recently, Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town joined partners and advocates in Durban for two important regional conversations focused on strengthening protection systems across Southern Africa through the Enhancing Protection and Asylum project, which is funded by the European Union via the MMD Grant Facility of International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

The week began with the Regional Engagement Process 2026: Fostering Pan African Cooperation Towards a Regional Protection Framework for Southern Africa, where discussions explored three key themes; access to asylum and protection, the feasibility of regional dialogues and cooperation and alternatives to detention. Discussions also covered documentation, legal status, rights and durable solutions. The conversation then turned to children at the SADC Child Rights Advocacy Seminar, under the theme “Investing in Children, Accelerating Development”. This engagement forms part of an ongoing series of children-focused conversations held in Cape Town and Uganda throughout the year, bringing together partners to explore the experiences, rights and protection needs of children on the move. Over two days, participants explored childhood statelessness, early childhood development, children on the move and the need to strengthen regional child protection systems.

Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town contributed to discussions on childhood statelessness alongside fellow EPA project partner Consortium for Refugees and Migrants South Africa (CoRMSA) and key CoRMSA members, Lawyers For Human Rights and Refugee Social Services, as well as the Global Movement Against Stateless, Centre for Child Law and Terre des Homme, Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors, Child Rights Network for Southern Africa, Kutunga Design Academy & Innovation Lab, UNICEF South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund

Across these conversations, one message stood out: stronger protection requires stronger systems, and stronger systems require collaboration.

From access to asylum and protection, to alternatives to detention, to the protection of children on the move, regional cooperation is essential to ensuring that people can access their rights, dignity and protection.

Thank you to all the organisations, advocates and partners who contributed to these important conversations.

07/08/2026

On Sunday, we celebrate the strength, resilience and leadership of women in all their diversity.

At Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, we honour the women who rebuild their lives, care for their families, advocate for their communities and continue to move forward despite the many barriers they face. Every woman deserves to live with dignity, safety and equal access to opportunities, regardless of where she comes from or the documents she holds.

This Women's Day, we reaffirm our commitment to standing alongside women on the move as they claim their rights, build their futures and shape stronger, more inclusive communities.

Happy Women's Day.

Join Scalabrini Centre’s Wellbeing and Development Group to get information on refugee rights and upcoming training and events here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/K9oeTwP4HA115edMdmPMsF

06/08/2026

We're Hiring: Junior Advocacy Officer

Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town is seeking a Junior Advocacy Officer with a legal educational background to join our team.

Click the link to see the job description: https://www.scalabrini.org.za/vacancies

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

06/08/2026

04/08/2026

A recent Western Cape High Court judgment has reaffirmed an important principle: children should not be denied birth registration because of their parents' immigration or documentation status.

Birth registration is often the first step in ensuring a child can access healthcare, education and other essential services. The Court recognised that children should not bear the consequences of circumstances beyond their control.

What this judgment does:
✔️ Affirms children's right to birth registration.
✔️ Recognises that parents' documentation status should not prevent a child's birth from being registered.

What this judgment does NOT do:
❌ It does not automatically grant South African citizenship. Birth registration and citizenship are governed by different laws.

The Department of Home Affairs may still need to communicate how this judgment will be implemented in practice. We encourage everyone to follow our official channels for accurate updates as more information becomes available.

24/07/2026

Friendship has the power to transcend borders, languages and cultures. It reminds us that kindness, understanding and human connection can create a sense of belonging, even in unfamiliar places.

For many people on the move, a friend can be the difference between feeling isolated and feeling welcomed. A simple act of compassion, a shared conversation, or a helping hand can build bridges that strengthen communities for everyone.

Tomorrow is International Friendship Day, let's celebrate the friendships that remind us of our shared humanity and continue creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued and included.

21/07/2026

Did you know that Section 22 and Section 24 permits allow asylum seekers and refugees in South Africa to work and remain in the country legally? Access to work means dignity, stability, and opportunity for all.

15/07/2026

URGENT NOTICE📢📢📢📢📢📢

10/07/2026

📢What does this Judgment mean❓

“This judgment is a victory not only for people seeking asylum, but especially for children on the move. For too long, children’s access to protection has been tied almost entirely to the procedural circumstances of the adults accompanying them. Today’s judgment reinforces a simple but profound constitutional principle: children are rights-holders in their own right, and their best interests must remain at the centre of every decision that affects them. No child should be denied protection because of circumstances beyond their control. This judgment affirms that children on the move are not merely dependants in an immigration process, but individuals entitled to the full protection of the Constitution.” – Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town

“Today's judgment sends a clear message that South Africa's constitutional democracy is founded on the rule of law, human dignity and equal protection for everyone within its borders. Refugees and asylum seekers cannot be denied protection through arbitrary administrative barriers, vague legislative provisions or discriminatory assumptions. The Constitution requires that every person seeking asylum be afforded a fair opportunity to have the merits of their claim properly considered before any decision is made that could expose them to persecution or other irreparable harm.” – Lawyers for Human Rights

Read our full Joint Press Statement here:

https://lnkd.in/dWirvRUr

09/07/2026

What does the Constitutional Court's latest judgment mean for people seeking asylum in South Africa?

The Constitutional Court has delivered a landmark judgment that strengthens the right to seek asylum and reaffirms South Africa's commitment to protecting people fleeing persecution.

As this judgment is still very recent, the practical steps for its implementation are still unfolding. At this stage, Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town is not yet able to provide definitive guidance on how it will affect individual cases.