The report explores the experiences of migrant women and children in South Africa as part of the EU-funded project 'Ending unlawful deprivation of liberty of women and children in South Africa'.
The South African legal system, including its protections for migrants and refugees, is widely regarded as compliant with international law and among the most ‘human rights friendly’ in the world. The enforcement of this legal system is the subject of this report, published in 2015. This research demonstrates how a tightly restricted immigration system, an overburdened and poorly functioning asylum system, and an under-resourced and unsuitable child protection system combined to place migrant women and children in an extremely vulnerable position.