On 6 December 2024, the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), hosted a regional roundtable to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention). Held at The Capital Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, this hybrid event brought together 80 participants including government representatives (DRC, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zimbabwe), diplomatic missions, civil society organisations, academics, and international organizations to discuss the pressing challenges of internal displacement in Southern Africa and identify actionable solutions.
The roundtable started with welcoming remarks by Mr. Lloyd Kuveya, Assistant Director at the Centre for Human Rights, who emphasised the importance of durable solutions for addressing internal displacement on the continent and the role of UNHCR in supporting states to tackle internal displacement challenges through sustainable responses. Hon. Selma Sassi-Safer, Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and Migrants in Africa, highlighted the dire displacement statistics in Africa, including 10 million IDPs in Sudan and 8 million in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She urged African states to accelerate ratification and implementation of the Kampala Convention.
Ms. Angele Djohossou, Deputy Director at the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Southern Africa, emphasized in her opening remarks that addressing the complex factors driving internal displacement—such as political instability, human rights violations, and climate change—requires holistic, human-centred approaches. She underscored the importance of shared responsibility in finding sustainable solutions and achieving more effective outcomes. Moreover, Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the urgent nature of the IDP situation across the continent. She called on all states to ratify and implement the convention to advance the promotion of the human rights of internally displaced persons.
Prof. Chaloka Beyani, Associate Professor of International Law at the London School of Economics and former Special Rapporteur on IDPs, who provided an overview of the Kampala Convention’s relevance and its challenges 15 years after adoption. He emphasized that the primary responsibility for protecting internally displaced persons (IDPs) lies with States, while highlighting the need to engage other relevant stakeholders through a whole-of-society approach. He also underscored the importance of improving the identification of IDPs through profiling, data collection, and evidence-based methods to effectively address their protection needs and vulnerabilities.
Mr. Vicente Anzellini, Global and Regional Analysis Manager at the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), presented data showing that Africa is home to 35 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), nearly half of the global total of 75.9 million. Despite the rising numbers, he highlighted that conflict remains the primary driver of internal displacement, with 32.5 million IDPs displaced by conflict and violence as of the end of 2023. Mr. Anzellini called for enhanced data collection systems, stressing the importance of collaboration between national statistics offices and UN agencies.
Government officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Mozambique, and the Republic of Congo shared experiences on developing legal frameworks to address internal displacement, showcasing efforts to include vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities in planning and response delivery. The discussions emphasised the importance of mainstreaming disaster management in IDP frameworks, transitioning from partial responses to comprehensive and long-term solutions that include development, peacebuilding, and human-rights-based approaches.
The event brought about these forward-looking actionable recommendations:
- Promote and support States ratification and implementation of the Kampala Convention effectively through parliamentary engagement and civil society advocacy.
- Enhance Government ownership of data governance through increased collaboration with national statistics offices to support evidence-based programming, policies, and solutions.
- Bolster resource mobilization and capacity development for improved protection and sustainable responses to internal displacement.
- Tackle the roots causes and underlying drivers through diplomatic efforts, RECs leadership, and other channels.
- Foster meaningful IDP participation from the outset to design better protection strategies and solutions.
- Reinforce regional cooperation with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including SADC and the Indian Ocean Commission while advocating with the African Union for policies and accountability.
- Facilitate annual regional meetings: Convene yearly regional meetings with Government focal points on IDP matters to promote cross fertilization and support States efforts.
The roundtable concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders to advance the implementation of the Kampala Convention and address the urgent challenges faced by Internally Displaced Persons in Southern Africa region.
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