We provide legal services and support, including free legal representation for asylum seekers so that everyone around the world, including displaced people, can have equal access to their legal rights.
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South Africa
A Congolese boy who fled the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo lives in makeshift tents set up in front of the UNHCR building in Pretoria, South Africa. (Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Office Location
Durban
Founded
2023
Connect
+27 368 6833
South Africa is home to 250,250 forcibly displaced people, of which 75,033 are recognized refugees and 165,115 are asylum seekers. Refugees and asylum seekers come from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. South Africa is a primary destination for forcibly displaced people from both inside and outside the region as they flee conflict, persecution, and recurring natural disasters.
Access to rights such as status, documentation, education, healthcare, and livelihoods remain out of reach for the majority of asylum seekers and migrant populations in South Africa. There are growing social inequalities, high rates of gender-based violence, and consistent exposure to xenophobic violence. Critical gaps exist in services for gender-based violence and mental health, as well as protection mechanisms for particularly vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals. There continues to be a large backlog of pending cases for asylum seekers.
Our Work in South Africa
HIAS wants to make a positive impact on the lives of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, ease the challenges they face in the country, and ensure they have access to their rights. We aim to combat and prevent Afrophobia and xenophobia in South Africa. Our work will focus on legal protection and advocacy, and also address mental health and psychosocial support as well as assistance for women and children and the LGBTQ+ refugee community who are at risk of gender-based violence. We work closely with the local Jewish community on social justice issues and build interfaith connections in the country.
From mobilizing grassroots advocates to engaging policymakers, advocacy is fundamental to HIAS’ work. With the Jewish community beside us, we stand up for the rights of forcibly displaced people globally.
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We work to protect the right of women, girls, and LGBTQ communities to access their full potential and live free from violence by supporting survivors, mitigating risks, and transforming beliefs that perpetuate GBV.
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HIAS’ community-based mental health programs promote the well-being of individuals, families, and communities affected by crisis and conflict so they can heal and rebuild their lives.
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We provide legal services and support, including free legal representation for asylum seekers so that everyone around the world, including displaced people, can have equal access to their legal rights.
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A Conversation with HIAS South Africa’s First Director
HIAS South Africa’s first director Alana Pugh-Jones Baranov discusses her plan to work alongside the country’s Jewish community in social action and social justice, as well as other initiatives in the years to come.
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Asylum seekers carry their belongings outside makeshift tents built in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Pretoria, South Africa on April 21, 2023. (Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
HIAS’ services are free. If someone tries to charge you for services claiming they represent HIAS, please report it at our confidential email address: ethics@hias.org. HIAS has a zero-tolerance policy on fraud and corruption.
For any other inquiries please email us at info@hias.org.
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