New AU Convention Passed on IDPs

The African Union has recently passed  a new Convention on Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. This is a ground-breaking piece of legislation as this is the first time international law is recognising the need to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs). In order to be legally binding, the Convention needs to be signed and ratified by 15 member states. Once that is achieved, states need to incorporate the Convention’s provisions into domestic law.

CoRMSA welcomes the provisions of the new Convention and sees this as an opportunity to improve mechanisms to prevent displacement, provide improved assistance to those displaced, as well as develop improved durable solutions following displacement. In South Africa, this should also positively impact on situations of displacement due to xenophobic violence. The Convention is available by clicking here.