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Most refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa remain displaced for prolonged periods of time. Often, their rights are highly restricted, and they live in precarious conditions which undermine their ability to attain durable solutions. The absence of durable solutions to the plights of many displaced persons affects their lives in displacement and beyond.

Various factors inhibit the realisation of durable solutions in Africa. While these factors are complex, much of them boil down to social, economic, political, and environmental conditions. To address these challenges, several calls have been made for the better implementation, and even for the re-conceptualisation of the ‘traditional’ durable solutions (voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement). Although a shift in understanding durable solutions from a solely humanitarian-based approach to approaches that include development, peacebuilding, and prevention has taken place, perspectives on the subject that reflect the views of displaced persons and responses tailored to the prevailing circumstances of Africa are limited. It is therefore important to stimulate conversations around human rights-based durable solutions that examine existing practices in light of the rights of forcibly displaced persons and propose ways of enhancing the effectiveness of durable solutions in Africa.

Topics

The Centre welcomes policy papers that deal with: 

  • Whether and how durable solutions to displacement should be re-conceptualised to suit the realities of displaced persons, and the social, economic, and political conditions in various contexts of Africa.
  • Experiences and perspectives of displaced persons regarding durable solutions; particularly vulnerable segments of displaced persons.
  • Human rights-based durable solutions, and the obligations of states.
  • The roles and practices of international organisations – in a broader sense, including United Nations agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Organisation for Migration, and non-governmental organisations in respect to durable solutions.
  • Case studies or comparative studies that investigate what has worked and what has not, in the implementation of the 'traditional' durable solutions in Africa (and elsewhere, but which draw valuable lessons relevant to African contexts).
  • Climate change or disaster-induced displacement and durable solutions in Africa; and
  • Papers that provide insight into how advocacy efforts should be designed to promote the better implementation of durable solutions.

Papers on topics other than the abovementioned will be accepted as long as they relate to durable solutions to forced migrants in Africa. Selected papers will be published in the African Human Rights Policy Papers. Authors will have the opportunity to present their papers at the High-Level Expert Forum on Durable Solutions to Displacement in Africa (High-Level Expert Forum), which will take place in Pretoria, South Africa, on 19 September 2022.

Submission information

Policy Papers

Authors should submit their abstracts (300 words max) via submittable.
Abstracts must contain the title, methodology, summary of the paper, and key recommendations.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is 7 July 2022.
Authors of selected abstracts will be notified on 15 July 2022.

Draft policy papers of 2500-3500 words should be submitted on or before 10 September 2022.
Final policy papers should be within the range of 3500-5000 words, including footnotes. A compilation of the policy papers will be published in the African Human Rights Policy Papers.

Costs

The Centre for Human Rights will cover return airfare costs (economy class), local transportation to and from Pretoria, and accommodation and meals for participants from 18 - 19 September 2022. Refreshments will be served during the dialogue.


For more information, please visit:

Manager: Migration Rights Unit