Lawyers for Human Rights call for inclusion of undocumented migrants in vaccine rollout

Lawyers for Human Rights call for inclusion of undocumented migrants in vaccine rollout Thandeka Chauke, Head of the Statelessness Project at Lawyers for Human Rights, recently spoke with CNBC Africa about the challenges faced by undocumented migrants in South Africa's vaccine rollout. The issue stems from the exclusion of undocumented individuals in the COVID-19 response, leading to marginalization and lack of access to essential services. Chauke emphasized the critical role documentation plays in accessing basic human rights and services, highlighting the detrimental impact of being undocumented. Notably, both migrants and South African citizens are affected by the lack of legal identity, with statistics indicating approximately 15.3 million undocumented individuals in the country. Chauke underscored the importance of distinguishing between undocumented citizens and migrants, encompassing refugees, asylum seekers, stateless individuals, and other migrants facing obstacles in renewing permits or accessing civic services. In response to the government's commitment to include foreign nationals in the vaccine rollout, Chauke raised concerns about the practical implementation and equitable access for undocumented migrants. The organization called for transparency, non-discrimination, and the creation of a safeguard against victimization and deportation. Emphasizing the need to denounce xenophobia and enhance COVID-19 communication efforts, Lawyers for Human Rights urged government engagement with civil society and stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and effective vaccination program. The overarching goal remains the equitable and non-discriminatory distribution of vaccines, safeguarding the health and well-being of all individuals in South Africa.