Introduction
The African Union Commission (AUC) convened a “Roundtable on Addressing Root Causes of Forced Displacement and Achieving Durable Solutions in Africa.” Held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 9 February 2019, the meeting was organized as a part of a series of events planned by the AU to mark its “Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).” UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, provided technical support and assistance.
This year’s focus on forced displacement comes as the African Union (AU) prepares to commemorate two key treaties on forced displacement in Africa: the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention on Refugees, and the 10th anniversary of the 2009 AU Convention on the Protection of and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, or Kampala Convention. The AU and its partners, including UNHCR, plan several events during the year.
The roundtable aimed at galvanizing support from a wide variety of AU partners to the theme of the year 2019 and to serve as a forum for AU partners to exchange views on root causes of forced displacement and ways to achieve durable solutions. The event consisted of an opening session followed by five thematic panels on issues such as drivers of forced displacement; preventive diplomacy and mediation; social inclusion and sustainable development with focus on youth, children and women; climate change and natural disasters; and responsibility sharing and partnerships.
Representatives of member states, Ms Cecilia Jimenez the Special UN Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), international and regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), diplomats, experts, refugees, the media and other stakeholders in a debate, focused on good practices, lessons learned and action proposals.
Humanitarian agencies and refugees arranged an exhibition as well as a musical performance by refugee children from countries in Africa.
The summary conclusions from the roundtable do not necessarily represent the views of individual participants or their organizations, but broadly reflect the themes and understandings that emerged from the discussions.