From 21 to 25 November 2022, the Centre for Human Rights organised a 5-day intensive course on the protection of forcibly displaced persons in Africa. The course presented a human-rights perspective on the protection of forcibly displaced persons in Africa. It enhanced the knowledge of participants on fundamental legal concepts and principles related to international law on forced displacement, critical challenges in the interpretation and application of key treaty provisions, and rights-based approaches to addressing challenges and ensuring durable solutions to forced displacement in Africa.

Most of the participants were drawn from various African countries. Some of them were also from Asia, Europe and the United States of America. They include persons with lived experience of forced displacement, professionals working in human rights and refugee rights organisations, lawyers, scholars, and relevant government officers.

The main objective of the course was to enable participants to have a thorough understanding of the meaning, causes and scale of the various forms of forced displacement in Africa, pertinent normative standards at the global and regional levels, including the rights of forcibly displaced persons. Participants were able to critically reflect on the legal and institutional responses to forced displacement, and the roles of humanitarian and development actors in the protection of forcibly displaced persons. At the end of the course, participants engaged in advocacy for the protection of forcibly displaced persons by campaigning for the increased ratification of the Kampala Convention and the abolition of refugee and IDP camps in Africa.

The Centre would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the following.

Moderators of the Course: Mr Abiy Ashenafi, Ms Dorcas Bamisamanyane, Ms Kerigo Odada, and Ms Tunde Enigbokan;

Lecturers of the course: Prof Frans Viljoen, Prof Edwin Abuya, Prof Lieneke Slingenberg, Prof Marina Sharpe, Dr Michael Addaney, Dr Cristiano d’Orsi, Dr Charissa Fawole, Mr Abiy Ashenafi, Ms Liesl Muller, Ms Yemisrach Kebede, Ms Thandeka Chauke, Ms Omotunde Enigbokan, and Dr Nomzamo Malindisa.

For further information, please contact

Dennis Antwi
Manager: Advanced Human Rights Courses
  Email: Dennis.antwi@up.ac.za

Abiy Ashenafi
Manager: Migration Unit
  Email: Abiy.ashenafi@up.ac.za