International protection and the Global Compacts in the time of Covid-19: lessons and challenges from South(ern) Africa

This is one of three virtual Expert Forums organized by the PROTECT Consortium aimed at discussing the implementation and performance of the Global Compacts on Refugees and Migrants in Europe, Canada, and South Africa. In this forum, an expert panel will examine the extent to which the GCR and GCM are influencing the implementation of South Africa’s legal and institutional frameworks surrounding refugee and migrant protection in cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The Forum will also explore the unique challenges the global COVID-19 pandemic has created in terms of implementation of the two Compacts at the city, national, and regional levels. Equally, looking forward, the Forum will ask if the pandemic may offer some opportunities to utilize the Compacts further to improve international protection structures for refugees and migrants.

For example, by developing more inclusive ‘whole of society’ approaches to healthcare systems at the local and municipality level.

Registration and program: https://protectproject.w.uib.no/protect-expert-forum-26-november/

The two other Expert Forums organized by the PROTECT Consortium are available here:

• The Two UN Compacts – Refugees and Migrants: Challenges and Implementation in Europe: https://protectproject.w.uib.no/protect-expert-forum-2020/
• Opportunity of Threat: Receiving Refugees in Canada and the Effects of the Global Compacts on Refugees and Migrants: https://protectproject.w.uib.no/protect-expert-forum-20-november/