The Benoni Declaration: A Bold Step Toward Protecting and Empowering Migrant Women in Southern Africa
Published: July 2025
By: Secretariat
In June 2024, a powerful movement emerged from the heart of Gauteng Province, South Africa. At the Lumko Institute in Benoni, migrant and refugee women from across Southern Africa gathered for the Women Migrants Summit hosted by the Southern Africa Migration Network (SAMIN). What came out of this gathering was not just shared stories of struggle but a united call for justice—the Benoni Declaration.
Why It Matters
Migrant women, including asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless individuals, face a harsh reality. They are vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV), exploitation, and social exclusion. Many live without legal documentation, access to healthcare, or safe housing. In conflict zones like the Democratic Republic of Congo, women are still used as weapons of war—subjected to rape, murder, and forced recruitment.
The Benoni Declaration brings these injustices to light and demands that they be addressed with urgency, dignity, and compassion.
Key Themes of the Declaration
Recognition and Rights
The declaration recognizes migrant women as valuable contributors to communities and economies. Studies show that migrant workers can increase income per capita by up to 5% in countries like South Africa. Despite this, they are still denied fair treatment, legal protections, and basic services.
Empowerment through Inclusion
Migrant women called for the creation of supportive spaces: community-based initiatives, solidarity networks, and education campaigns to combat misinformation, hate speech, and harmful stereotypes.
Economic Empowerment
Economic survival is a struggle. The declaration advocates for vocational training, skills development, and access to income-generating opportunities to help women achieve independence and stability.
A Call to Action
The declaration doesn’t stop at raising awareness. It sets out 14 specific demands directed at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments, civil society, and international organizations:
- Gender-responsive migration policies that protect women’s rights.
- Protection and support for GBV survivors, including shelters and mental health services.
- Access to justice and legal documentation.
- Punishment for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict areas—recognized as crimes against humanity.
- Increased research and data collection to guide policy and track progress.
- Integration efforts between migrant and host communities.
- Accession to international conventions on statelessness and refugee rights.
- Media accountability to promote accurate narratives about migrants.
- Durable solutions like family reunification, education, and resettlement pathways.
- Voluntary repatriation programs that ensure safe returns home.
Acknowledging the Road Ahead
The declaration admits that these goals are ambitious. Real change will take time, resources, and persistence. But what gives the declaration its strength is the unwavering commitment of those who created it: a community of women determined to build a safer, more just future for all migrants.
How You Can Help
Whether you’re an individual, an organization, or a policymaker, you have a role to play:
- Share this declaration with your network.
- Support organizations working on migrant and refugee rights.
- Hold leaders accountable for enacting inclusive and protective laws.
Together, we can help turn the aspirations of the Benoni Declaration into real-world change.
For more information or to join the movement, contact:
SAMIN Secretariat
📧 Email: secretariat@samin.org.za
📞 Mobile: +27 84 687 5946
📄 Download the Full Benoni Declaration
Want to read the full document? Click below to download the official Benoni Declaration PDF.