Excellencies, Ministers;
The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations for the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons;
The representative of the President of the Commission of the African Union;
Her Excellency the President of the Sub-Committee of the Permanent Representatives Committee;
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Missions;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of United Nations Agencies and International Organizations;
Ladies and gentlemen in your respective titles and qualities;
Today is a great day for displaced persons in Africa and for the entire community of humanitarian workers. Today December 6, we are celebrating the entry into force, on 6 December 2012, of the African Union Convention on Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, which was adopted on 23 October 2009, at the Special Summit of the African Union on Refugee, Returnee and Displaced Persons held in Kampala in October 2009.
So it has been 10 years since our Heads of State and Governments gathered here in the Ugandan capital to take an important step towards ending the phenomenon of forced displacement of people on the continent. This measure in itself enriches the rights of persons in situations of forced displacement and clearly demonstrates that African leaders are aware of the hardship’s life condition faced by IDPs and are determined to end their displacement suffering as far as possible.
The Convention adopted here in Kampala is an appropriate, unique, and unequivocal response to the challenge of forced displacement that face Africa as it aims to provide legal protection and assistance to millions of internally displaced persons that are forced to fly their home due to conflicts, disasters and other crises on the continent.
The adoption of this legal instrument in Africa has been recognized by the entire international community as a significant contribution to the construction of international humanitarian law. This Convention opens new horizons for victims of forced displacement, including those who have moved away from environmental causes and economic projects to find protection and assistance.
As we are gathered here in Kampala, on this day to mark together the 10th anniversary of the Convention that is commonly associated with this city, we must pay tribute to all the displaced persons of Africa and reiterate our common will to impulses a new impetus to provide protection, security and dignity to our people.
I solemnly pay tribute to the humanitarian workers from States, non-governmental organizations and specialized agencies as well as from international organizations for the constant assistance they provide to displaced populations in Africa, and for all the work they continue to do to protect vulnerable people in our societies and call on them to step up their efforts.
Likewise, this is a timely opportunity to commend the efforts of the 55 African Union Member States for their outstanding efforts and sacrifices to fulfil their state obligations to protect and assist displaced persons in their countries. I am thinking in particular of the States that currently facing insecurity related to terrorism, conflicts and disasters.
I would particularly like to thank and congratulate the States Parties to the Kampala Convention. Those States that have ratified the Kampala Convention, have thereby taken the leadership of African efforts to protect the most vulnerable people in our societies and thereby contribute to strengthening our shared values contained in the legal and political instruments of our continental organization and that guide the individual and collective action of our States.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Ten years is certainly a long time in any human endeavour. As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Kampala Convention, we should take the time to reflect on the protection opportunities and challenges that the continent could face in the next decade. It is this exercise that the African Union Commission, its Member States and its partners have been doing throughout this year which has the theme of the Year of Refugees, Repatriates and Displaced Persons: Towards a durable solution to forced displacement in Africa. The conclusions of the work we have produced throughout this year will be elaborated in the form of a report and recommendations which will be submitted to the upcoming Summit of Heads of State and Governments of February 2020.
The protection situation in Africa over the next decade will depend not only on the political will, but also on a strong commitment from all sides, for the implementation and achievement of concrete results in the area of protection. It is therefore in the respect of these commitments that I invite you all to join your efforts so that we all contribute to reducing the factors leading to forced displacement in Africa.
Together, we must participate in the realization of a united, prosperous, integrated and peaceful Africa where the rights of the most vulnerable people in society are guaranteed and protected.
Thank you
