BuaNews (Tshwane)
19 June 2011
Pretoria — World Refugee Day commemorations got off to an early start in South Africa, with the Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Fatima Chohan, set to address an event in Soweto on Sunday.
World Refugee Day will be commemorated around the world on 20 June and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
On Sunday, Chohan was expected address the topic of South Africa’s Migration Policies at an event organised by a number of groups under the auspices of the UNHCR.
Chohan will also on address an event organised by the Refugee Help Desk in Yeoville, Johannesburg, on Monday.
“South Africa, as a signatory to the Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol, is also a member of the Executive Committee of UNHCR. Government is therefore committed to fulfilling its international commitments to those who legitimately seek protection from persecution in our country,” said Home Affairs.
As the largest recipient of individual asylum seekers in the world, in 2010 the department took to Parliament an amendment of the Refugees Act of 1998.
“These amendments were unanimously endorsed by both Houses of Parliament earlier this year and are intended to streamline the processes of application for asylum by making it more efficient, easy and credible for those who seek our protection,” the department noted.
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Country Commemorates World Refugee Day