Resolution on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa

We, the participants of the Forum of NGOs participating at the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 11th African Human Rights Book Fair, held in Banjul, The Gambia, from April 27 to May 11, 2005,

Having reviewed the dramatic situation of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa;

Concerned with the persistent conflicts in many African countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, and in some Great Lakes countries;

Draw the attention of the international community on the programmed elimination of the right of asylum in the world, particularly in the developed countries;

Aware of the need to mobilize resources to give assistance to internally displaced persons and refugees in Africa, more particularly in Darfur;

Rise up against restrictive practices and policies against African asylum seekers in the world and transit and readmission agreements whose only aim is to confine refugees and asylum seekers to Africa, in violation of the relevant legal instruments;

Aware that the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons must follow the changes taking place on the continent and the reforms initiated by HCR since the international consultations on the Geneva Convention of 1951;

Welcome once again the appointment by ACHPR of the Special Rapporteur on refugees and internally displaced persons;

Express our total willingness to collaborate with the new Special Rapporteur and urge the States and NGOs to do the same;

Recommend to:

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

To monitor the decisions and resolutions already taken by ACHPR on refugees and internally displaced persons;
To provide the Special Rapporteur with adequate resources to fulfill his mission.

Special Rapporteur

To play the role of facilitator of dialogue between the Commission, the States concerned and the refugees, with a view to resolving the problems of refugees through sustainable solutions such as the voluntary repatriation in their countries of origin.

Member States of ACHPR

To pay particular attention to the protection of economic, social and cultural rights of refugees;
To ensure strict respect of the 1951 Convention and the OAU Convention of 1969 within the framework of the agreements signed with the developed countries;
To formulate national legislations and establish National Commissions for assessing the qualifications to the status of refugees.

NGOs

We recommend that they provide the Special Rapporteur with the information and reports he needs to carry out his mandate.

Done at Banjul, 26 April, 2005