ACERWC African Committee of Experts on the Rights & Welfare of the Child Chapter 5 CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN ON THE MOVE IN AFRICA 5.1 Discrimination Discrimination, largely racism and xenophobia, represents one of the key emerging challenges facing children on the move. Reported cases, some of them leading to arrests, covering different parts of the continent are evidence of violations. These are committed both by citizens of the host country and official structures (e.g. security forces). In South Africa, for instance, among other challenges, child migrants face xenophobia. Xenophobia is a form of violence which harms victims physically and psychologically.378 Migrant children in South Africa face xenophobia from their peers, teachers and are sometimes barred from accessing schools because they are in the country illegally.379 In February 2017, there were reports by parents that xenophobia prejudice was affecting local schools in South Africa.380 Notably, in 2015 the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued a Resolution condemning xenophobic attacks in South Africa and called on the Government of South Africa to stop attacks on foreign nationals in the country and to take steps to ensure that it does not occur in the future.381 In particular, the Resolution calls upon the Government of South Africa to take appropriate steps to guarantee the rights of all immigrants in line with international and regional human rights instruments.382 However, xenophobic prejudice and attacks are yet to be stemmed. In a survey conducted in 2016, ‘92 per cent of their interviewees – predominantly migrants from Africa – had witnessed or experienced discrimination during their travels in Tunisia. Experiences of discrimination have long been also reported by migrants and refugees travelling through Egypt. In Libya, xenophobia against migrants appear to be increasing, especially in coastal areas, where foreign nationals are blamed for the rise of criminal groups and smuggling networks’.383 Although difficult, civil society and looser community-based campaigns in North Africa are increasingly mobilized to counter racism especially against children. Several campaigns, especially in the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) have been organized to send a welcoming message to refugees. 5.2 Loss of identity, name and nationality Children on the move are likely to be vulnerable because despite the challenges that they may have faced at home such as poverty, inadequate nutrition, poor health care or education, they 378 379 380 381 382 383 M Hlatshwayo & S Vally, ‘Violence, resilience and solidarity: The right to education for child migrants in South Africa’ (2014) 35(3) School Psychology International 266–279. ENCA, A Rare Lifeline for Migrant Children in South Africa, https://www.enca.com/south-africa/a-rarelifeline-for-migrant-children-in-south-africa accessing 17 September 2018. Center for Applied Legal Studies, Recurrence of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, https://www.wits.ac.za/news/sources/cals-news/2017/recurrence-of-xenophobic-attacks-in-south -africa.html accessed 19 September 2018. African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Resolution Condemning the Xenophobic Attacks in the Republic of South Africa - ACHPR/Res.304 (LVI) 2015. As above. North Africa Mixed Migration Hub quoted in United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) & International Organization for Migration (IOM). 2017. Harrowing Journeys: Children and youth on the move across the Mediterranean Sea, at risk of trafficking and exploitation. New York: UNICEF, P 40. 70