MEDIA ADVISORY
Deposition of Instrument of Ratification of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa

What: Ceremony of the Deposition of Instrument of Ratification of the Kampala
Convention by Republic of Somalia

When: 06 March 2020 at 10:00 am

Where: African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Small Conference Room 2)

Who: Organized by Department of Political Affairs at the African Union Commission

Background
Africa is home to at over 25.2 million forcibly displaced persons, made up of 7.4 million refugees and 17.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The continental also hosts 484,000 asylum seekers and some 712,000 stateless persons. Forced displacement has continued to plague Africa over the years, largely trigger by intra-state conflicts, including inter-communal and ethnic violence, persecution as well as natural disasters. Although forced displacement is a global challenge, political uncertainties, incidents of human trafficking, mixed migratory patterns, forced recruitment into terrorist networks and violent extremism, securitization of refugee/IDP camps, sexual and gender-based violence, erratic weather, floods and drought, among other issues continue to exacerbate displacements in Africa.
The Kampala Convention is a pioneering regional treaty that promotes strong and effective national system of protection and solutions for IDPs. It recognizes IDPs as “right-holders” and establishes national responsibilities and obligations in displacement situation triggered by violence and conflicts, natural disaster, effects of climate change and projects. The Convention recognizes the roles and contributions of regional and international actors and provides for a mechanism to monitor implementation. It also stipulates for actions aimed at preventing forced
displacement and facilitates all forms of durable solutions including return, local integration and durable solutions.
The adoption of the Kampala Convention in 2009, which came into force in 2012, signaled a strong commitment by AU Member States towards finding solutions for displacement. To date 31 of the 55 Member States of the African Union have ratified the treaty whilst 40 states have signed it. The Republic of Somalia ratified the Kampala Convention in November 2020.
The first Conference of State Parties was held in July 2017 in Harare, Zimbabwe which adopted the “Harare Plan of Action”. The Plan of Action outlines a multi-year roadmap of activities aimed at promoting greater compliance by AU member states to the Convention through improved ratification, domestication and implementation. The African Union works with Member States, Regional Economic Communities and partners to advocate for ratification and implementation of the Convention and implement capacity building efforts. This event is intended to officially welcome the Republic of Somalia as a signatory state and share experiences among member states in the ratification and implementation of the Kampala Convention.
For information please contact:-
Mr. Yusuf Muhammed | Knowledge Management and Communications Officer, Department of Political Affairs | Mohammedy@africa-union.org | Tel: +2511155177 00

Media Contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke| Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission | Tel: +251 (0) 911630631| E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org|

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org
Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommission

Learn more at:
https://au.int/en/newsevents/20191204/8th-high-level-dialogue-au-theme-y...