The public lecture gives Peace Studies training at Hekima University College its exquisite quality. Public lectures are events that HIPSIR organizes to familiarize students with the fieldwork of Peace Studies. During the public lectures, some scholars or professionals in the field are invited. They will share their knowledge and experience with the students. Still better, public lectures can create a network, allowing students to build relationships with figures in Peace Studies.
As part of a public lecture, on Friday, 13th September, a significant roundtable discussion took place at HIPSIR. In collaboration with Coventry University, Center for Trust Peace and Social Relations, HISPIR organized a discussion on migration, peace, and security in Eastern Africa.
The panelists, including Dr. Agnes Behr, Dr. Bernard Mogesa, Ambassador Hukka Wario, and Dr. Gabriel Lubale, shared their expertise on the current context of migration in Eastern Africa, including the causes of migration, key figures, response strategies, and the impact of migration. This discussion was a crucial platform for understanding and addressing the complex
issues surrounding migration in our region.
The central topic of discussion was the opportunities and challenges of migration that Eastern Africa faces. The biggest challenge is the identity of some migrants. Dr. Lubalel stated that migration impacts a person's “title”, a migrant’s identity. The migrant’s identity depends on why and how they leave their country. When they don’t have a choice and have to flee their country for safety because of human rights violations, violent conflict, or climate change, they benefit from some “titles” but not others. They become refugees.
That is why some organizations intervene to prevent the loss of identity, which can impact the rights of the migrants. In response to that challenge, Ambassador Wario stated that technology is useful for facing migration. He noted how technology helped to manage migration by securing identity with registered data.
Indeed, technology has revolutionized the way we migrate. Today, we can reside in Africa and work in Europe. As Ambassador Wario aptly puts it: “Technology has transcended the barriers of distance and time.” The advancement of technology has created numerous digital work opportunities, thereby shaping a new employment market. Eastern Africa can harness this new employment market to address some of the challenges associated with migration, such as providing refugees with better access to education and employment. This presents a promising new approach to tackling the migration challenge.
By Olympe Aimerance