Pan African Parliament to host African Regional Parliamentary Conference on the predicament of refugees

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will host  an African Regional Parliamentary Conference on Comprehensive Responses to Refugee Situations – Effective Parliamentary Approaches, from 11 to 13 November 2019 in Midrand, South Africa.

This follows the adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and will be held in the context of the African Union (AU)’s theme for 2019: The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa.

According to a press release by PAP’s Media Officer Jeffrey ONGANGA the gathering is expected to  provide a platform for African Parliamentarians and other stakeholders working on the development and implementation of comprehensive responses related to refugees and affected host populations, to examine the issue of refugees from every angle.

The, President of the PAP, Rt. Hon. Roger Nkodo DANG says that the regional parliamentary conference will complement a series of initiatives undertaken by the continental Parliament in 2019, in line with the theme of the AU which has called for firm commitments to addressing the predicament of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons.

“The PAP is pleased to host this important conference organized by the IPU, in cooperation with UNHCR, as it will enable African legislators to learn and share experiences with global stakeholders in the process of finding durable solutions to forced displacement in Africa. We are adamant that as Parliamentarians, we need to constantly build our capacity in order to respond adequately to the issues facing our people. Therefore, this event comes at an opportune time and we hope to reflect and come up with a comprehensive framework to refugee problems across the continent,” says Rt. Hon. Nkodo DANG.

“Parliamentarians have the power to establish a legislative framework, allocate resources and hold governments accountable to ensure that refugees worldwide receive the protection and assistance they need,” said Martin CHUNGONG, IPU Secretary General, “Parliamentarians can also help change the narrative from viewing refugees not just as people in need of assistance but as agents of change who can contribute greatly to the countries in which they live. This is why this conference is so important so that parliamentarians from the region can exchange ideas and best practice in order to turn the refugee crisis into an opportunity.”

The African Regional Parliamentary Conference is also expected to raise awareness of African MPs on the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). The GCR was adopted in December 2018 after two years of extensive consultations led by UNHCR and is described as a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation.

The conference is expected to result in a declaration for parliamentarians to support the implementation of effective responses to the refugee situation that will be in line with the GCR.