Migration; Human Settlements; and Climate Justice
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) continues to prioritise protecting and advancing human rights in the face of some of the most urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges of our time. The interconnected focus areas of migration, human settlement, and climate justice remain central to the Commission’s strategic interventions.
Migration, both internal and cross-border, is a growing reality in South Africa and globally. In recognition of the unique vulnerabilities facing migrants, the SAHRC will be hosting a national dialogue with embassies and high commissions in South Africa, aimed at fostering a more coordinated and human rights-based approach to migration governance. The dialogue will be a continuous engagement until the intended objective is achieved. In addition, the Commission is preparing to visit key border areas to identify systemic human rights concerns affecting migrants, asylum seekers, border officials, and border communities. These engagements will inform the development of humane and rights-centred border management policies, promoting state security and the dignity and well-being of all individuals at our borders.
Beyond addressing institutional frameworks, the SAHRC recognises that integrating migrant communities requires substantial efforts to promote social cohesion. Migration often brings social tensions rooted in fear, misinformation, and economic insecurity. The Commission advocates for public education, intercultural dialogue, and inclusive community programmes that foster mutual understanding, respect, and solidarity between South Africans and non-nationals. A socially cohesive society is one in which diversity is embraced, and all people, regardless of origin, are afforded equal protection and opportunity under the law.
Human settlement, closely linked to the right to adequate housing, remains a key area of concern. Across the country, many communities continue to experience inadequate housing, insecure tenure, and insufficient access to essential services such as water, sanitation, and electricity. The SAHRC’s efforts in this area include monitoring state compliance with housing obligations, advocating for inclusive spatial planning, and investigating cases where development processes undermine the rights of vulnerable groups. For the Commission, human settlement is more than a technical or infrastructural concern—it is fundamentally about ensuring that all people have a place to live in dignity, safety, and stability.
The Commission has also intensified its work in climate justice, recognising that environmental degradation and climate change are among the greatest threats to the realisation of human rights today. By establishing a Committee of Experts on Climate Justice, the SAHRC contributes to a rights-based discourse on environmental governance in South Africa. The Commission is particularly focused on advocating for a human rights-based approach to coastal management and the emerging blue economy, ensuring that development in coastal and marine environments does not come at the expense of marginalised communities, traditional livelihoods, or ecological sustainability. As climate change increasingly drives displacement, poverty, and inequality, the SAHRC is working to ensure that environmental policies and responses are equitable and inclusive of all voices, especially the indigenous people.
These focus areas reflect the SAHRC’s holistic approach to promoting human rights in the 21st century. Migration, settlement, and climate are not standalone issues—they are deeply intertwined, each influencing the other in complex ways. The Commission’s work in these areas is rooted in the belief that a just, inclusive, and sustainable society can only be achieved when human rights are placed at the centre of policy-making, service delivery, and public discourse.
Migration, both internal and cross-border, is a growing reality in South Africa and globally. In recognition of the unique vulnerabilities facing migrants, the SAHRC will be hosting a national dialogue with embassies and high commissions in South Africa, aimed at fostering a more coordinated and human rights-based approach to migration governance. The dialogue will be a continuous engagement until the intended objective is achieved. In addition, the Commission is preparing to visit key border areas to identify systemic human rights concerns affecting migrants, asylum seekers, border officials, and border communities. These engagements will inform the development of humane and rights-centred border management policies, promoting state security and the dignity and well-being of all individuals at our borders.
Beyond addressing institutional frameworks, the SAHRC recognises that integrating migrant communities requires substantial efforts to promote social cohesion. Migration often brings social tensions rooted in fear, misinformation, and economic insecurity. The Commission advocates for public education, intercultural dialogue, and inclusive community programmes that foster mutual understanding, respect, and solidarity between South Africans and non-nationals. A socially cohesive society is one in which diversity is embraced, and all people, regardless of origin, are afforded equal protection and opportunity under the law.
Human settlement, closely linked to the right to adequate housing, remains a key area of concern. Across the country, many communities continue to experience inadequate housing, insecure tenure, and insufficient access to essential services such as water, sanitation, and electricity. The SAHRC’s efforts in this area include monitoring state compliance with housing obligations, advocating for inclusive spatial planning, and investigating cases where development processes undermine the rights of vulnerable groups. For the Commission, human settlement is more than a technical or infrastructural concern—it is fundamentally about ensuring that all people have a place to live in dignity, safety, and stability.
The Commission has also intensified its work in climate justice, recognising that environmental degradation and climate change are among the greatest threats to the realisation of human rights today. By establishing a Committee of Experts on Climate Justice, the SAHRC contributes to a rights-based discourse on environmental governance in South Africa. The Commission is particularly focused on advocating for a human rights-based approach to coastal management and the emerging blue economy, ensuring that development in coastal and marine environments does not come at the expense of marginalised communities, traditional livelihoods, or ecological sustainability. As climate change increasingly drives displacement, poverty, and inequality, the SAHRC is working to ensure that environmental policies and responses are equitable and inclusive of all voices, especially the indigenous people.
These focus areas reflect the SAHRC’s holistic approach to promoting human rights in the 21st century. Migration, settlement, and climate are not standalone issues—they are deeply intertwined, each influencing the other in complex ways. The Commission’s work in these areas is rooted in the belief that a just, inclusive, and sustainable society can only be achieved when human rights are placed at the centre of policy-making, service delivery, and public discourse.