The conference will examine the reality of migration on the African continent and its impact on development in Southern Africa with a view to influencing policies that serve the common good and that promote dialog and collaboration between sending and receiving countries.
Concept Note
According to the International Organisation for Migration IOM (2015) the number of people residing in a country other than their country of birth has reached record levels, totaling 244 million in 2015, up by 41 per cent since 2000. This vast movement of people on the planet is largely unplanned and unregulated, opening the door to human trafficking to which many migrants fall prey particularly the African continent.
Given this reality, the conference seeks to analyse the impact of migration on development and social cohesion on the African continent with special emphasis on Southern Africa. It aims to provide an ethical and human rights framework for considering this phenomenon in its varying aspects. Given the linkage between sending and receiving countries, the conference invites us to view migration through the lens of the “common good”, one of the main principles of the social teachings of the Catholic Church.
With a view to gaining a deeper understanding of the phenomenon and also offering suggestions for mitigating the impact, the conference will interrogate some of the following questions:
How does this movement speak to the failure of development policies to provide adequately for the basic needs of their populations?
Why are there so many violent conflicts on the African continent that force whole families to leave their homes for an uncertain future elsewhere?
What impact does climate change have on the movement of people?
Do women and children face unique problems throughout the migration process?
What policies and procedures can be put in place to discourage migration, to assist migrants, and to resettle those who return to their countries of origin?
Specific Objectives
To provide accurate information, as well as an ethical perspective, on the current migration crisis with special emphasis on the impact on development in the Southern African region;
To strengthen the unity of different actors on migration issues and development;
To examine the drivers of forced migration including conflicts, climate change, unemployment and failures of governance, with a view to correcting or mitigating them;
To explore effective responses to the migration crisis that will contribute to employment creation, sustainable development and social cohesion while respecting cultural and religious diversity.
Expected Results
The migration and development nexus in Southern Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe, is clearly enunciated and the implications understood;
Policy recommendations are made to the relevant government departments, non-governmental agencies, churches and institutes of higher education on providing assistance to migrants as well as on eliminating the causes of forced migration.
A unified plan of action for Southern Africa is developed in a spirit of cooperation between the various agencies and groups that are dealing with this issue,
The Catholic University of Zimbabwe (CUZ) launches a degree course in migration studies.
Some of the Confirmed Speakers
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Conference Email: migrationconference2018@cuz.ac.zw
NB: All participants are expected to secure their own accommodation for the duration of the conference
You can enquire to some of the following suggested hotels;
The Conference will be held at:
Cresta Lodge Hotel, Harare, Zimbabwe
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