In response to the recent rise in xenophobia-related incidents in
South Africa, IOM has launched a new two-year programme to promote
tolerance, integration and diversity in the country.

The programme, funded by the UK Department for International
Development (DFID) and implemented through the Forced Migration
Studies Programme (FMSP) of the University of the Witwatersrand,
has kicked off with a baseline assessment aimed at understanding
the root causes of xenophobic attitudes. This assessment will
inform other medium-term and long-term strategic interventions.

"While migration towards South Africa is increasing, the country
is simultaneously experiencing an upsurge in xenophobic tendencies
and attacks," says Yukiko Kumashiro, IOM Pretoria's Programme
Development Officer.

"In May 2008 we witnessed unprecedented simultaneous violent
attacks against migrants in several townships over a period of
weeks, which left about 60 people dead and tens of thousands
internally displaced," she adds.

The South African government set up temporary shelter sites to
house thousands of foreign nationals displaced by the May violence
and is now in the process of closing down the sites in a bid to
fully reintegrate the migrants in their local communities.

"IOM's baseline assessment, which is expected in November, will
play an important role in understanding the root causes of
resentment towards foreigners. This is something that must be taken
into account during the reintegration process," Kumashiro
explains.

IOM will also launch an awareness-raising campaign to combat
xenophobia in October 2008, with funding from the US State
Department's Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration
(PRM).

The campaign will be run in partnership with the international
advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi and South Africa's largest
urban commercial radio station, METRO FM, a platform of the South
African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

IOM is now seeking USD 1.5 million in additional funding to
ensure the sustainability of the programme, and to implement the
two remaining components – human rights training for
government and public officials, and the establishment of a
coordinated response mechanism.

"Many law enforcement, immigration, health and social welfare
officials are not sufficiently aware of migrants' rights and
entitlements, as stipulated under the South African Constitution
and Immigration Act. As a result, migrants are commonly denied
services that they are entitled to," says Kumashiro.

For more information, please contact:

Yukiko Kumashiro

IOM Pretoria

Tel: +27 12 342 2789

E-mail: "mailto:ykumashiro@iom.int">ykumashiro@iom.int