OAU Convention on Refugees in Africa
The Organization of African Unity (OAU) has always paid particular interest to the issue of refugees in Africa, which breaks the sad record for displaced people and refugees throughout the world. This figure rose to 7 million refugees and 20 million displaced people in 1999 and constitutes one of the major challenges facing the Organization.
The OAU has always mobilized in favor of this category of people, notably by establishing in 1964 a commission on refugees responsible for examining this question and making recommendations to the higher authorities of the pan-African organization. As part of its activities, the commission regularly sends fact-finding missions to countries hosting refugees in order to keep informed of their situation and to advise member states on how to resolve the problems they face.
In 1969, the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the OAU adopted the convention governing specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa which is the regional complement to the United Nations Convention of 1951 and the Protocol of January 1967 relating to the status of refugees.
This convention defines the term refugee, as well as the rights and obligations arising from it. It stipulates in particular that the granting of the right of asylum to refugees constitutes a peaceful and humanitarian act and enshrines the principle according to which no refugee may be expelled or repatriated against their will.
The commemoration of the anniversary of this convention will give rise to a series of events which will constitute an additional opportunity to raise awareness among African and international public opinion about the issue of refugees in Africa and to mobilize financial resources in their favor.
The OAU has always mobilized in favor of this category of people, notably by establishing in 1964 a commission on refugees responsible for examining this question and making recommendations to the higher authorities of the pan-African organization. As part of its activities, the commission regularly sends fact-finding missions to countries hosting refugees in order to keep informed of their situation and to advise member states on how to resolve the problems they face.
In 1969, the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the OAU adopted the convention governing specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa which is the regional complement to the United Nations Convention of 1951 and the Protocol of January 1967 relating to the status of refugees.
This convention defines the term refugee, as well as the rights and obligations arising from it. It stipulates in particular that the granting of the right of asylum to refugees constitutes a peaceful and humanitarian act and enshrines the principle according to which no refugee may be expelled or repatriated against their will.
The commemoration of the anniversary of this convention will give rise to a series of events which will constitute an additional opportunity to raise awareness among African and international public opinion about the issue of refugees in Africa and to mobilize financial resources in their favor.