Cape Town, South Africa – The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town is pleased to announce the launch of Paper as Protection, a new documentary exploring the lived experience of young people and the profound impact that access to identity documents can have on a person’s life.

We follow the story of a young woman navigating documentation challenges in South Africa, Paper as Protection highlights how something as seemingly simple as an identity document can determine access to education, employment, healthcare, safety and other fundamental rights.

The documentary brings a human face to the often complex systems surrounding identity and documentation. It reflects the uncertainty, resilience and determination of people who find themselves navigating these systems while trying to build secure and meaningful lives.

At its heart, Paper as Protection asks us to consider what identity documentation represents: not simply a piece of paper, but recognition, belonging, protection and the ability to participate fully in society.

The documentary forms part of the Scalabrini Centre’s broader work to promote the rights and dignity of people on the move and to raise awareness of the barriers faced by unaccompanied and separated migrant children experiencing challenges with documentation.

This film was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union, contracted by International Centre for Migration Policy Development(ICMPD) through the Migration and Mobility Dialogue Grant Facility. The contents of this film are the sole responsibility of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or ICMPD. 

The Enhance Protection and Asylum Project, with the financial assistance of the European Union, contracted by ICMPD through the MMD Grant Facility, incorporates the following South African and Ugandan organisations, Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa(CoRMSA), Jesuit Refugee Service Uganda, Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa and the Catholic Centre for Legal Services

Paper as Protection is now available to watch here.

ENDS