The Centre for Human Rights, in partnership with the UNHCR Regional Office for Southern Africa, cordially invites you to the webinar titled ‘Protecting persons displaced in the context of climate change and disasters in Africa’.
Date: 29 July 2022
Time: 11:00 -13:00 (SAST)
Venue: Online
Background
Climate change has increased the frequency of disasters and worsened the severity of their impacts. On average, in each of the years from 2010 to 2020, various hazards linked to climate change resulted in the displacement of more than 20 million people. It is estimated that by 2050, over 86 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, and 216 million people across the world will be affected by displacements related to climate change. Vulnerable individuals and communities in developing states are and will be highly affected by this phenomenon. This attests to the need for taking all preventive measures that mitigate climate change and proactively prevent displacement and the ensuing ordeal.
Besides the prevention of displacement related to climate change, the effective protection of persons that have already been displaced requires attention and urgent action. This includes their legal protection at the global, regional, and domestic level. The webinar will explore the extent to which legal protection is accorded to these persons under applicable norms at the global, African regional, and domestic levels. In doing so, it will identify legal gaps and provide policy recommendations. Through discussion on these themes, the webinar seeks to contribute to increasing the informed engagement of relevant stakeholders in advocacy on the mitigation of climate change, prevention of displacement linked to the impacts of climate change, and protection of the displaced.
About the Panel
The Webinar will feature highly esteemed experts from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNHCR Regional Bureau for Southern Africa, and academic institutions.
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