IDP summit success’
KAMPALA - President Banda has described the just ended two-day African Union (AU) Special Summit on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Africa as a distinct success.
Meanwhile, President Banda returned from Kampala last night.And President Banda has pledged Zambia’s commitment to the ratification of the convention on displaced persons as soon as it is signed by respective member states.
Mr Banda made the remarks when he addressed the AU Assembly in a vote of thanks at the close of the summit held at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Uganda.
He said the summit, held under the theme African Union: Addressing the Challenge of Forced Displacement in Africa, was a success as evidenced by the signing of the Kampala Convention and Declaration on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons.
“I believe I am speaking for everyone that the summit has been a distinct success as evidenced by the signing of the Kampala Convention as well as the Kampala Declaration on Refugees,” President Banda said.
He said this in a speech he delivered after signing the convention together with 16 other Heads of State and representatives of Government.
President Banda said the special summit had brought to the top of the African Union agenda focus on IDPs and root causes of internal displacement of citizens.
He urged Heads of State and Government who have not yet signed the instrument to ensure that the process is expedited to avoid continued suffering of affected people.
Mr Banda said Zambia will ratify the convention in accordance with the country’s longstanding history of supporting refugees and IDPs from conflict areas as soon as it is signed by all African Union member states.
He acknowledged that the independence era significantly contributed to the massive displacement of people on the continent.
President Banda said the task that remains ahead is to ensure that IDPs are guaranteed their rights by ensuring that they are supported through development ventures.
Earlier, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni said member states which have not signed the Convention should do so and ensure the domestication of the instrument in their laws.
Mr Museveni who is African Union Special Summit Chairperson said the signing of the convention will ensure that challenges being faced by IDPs on the continent are addressed.
The Ugandan President who led other leaders in appending his signature to the Convention hoped that after all member states had signed the document, ratification would equally be expedited to ensure that the instrument becomes operational.
And African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson for Political Affairs Zainab Hawa Bangura said the adoption and signing of the Convention on Refugees, Returnees and IDPs, which comes 40 years after the OAU Convention, demonstrated commitment of the African continent to take its destiny into its own hands.
Ms Bangura, however, said the African Union could not make headway without acknowledging the international community and other cooperating partners in improving the lives of internally displaced people.
The Convention which was also signed by Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, President Mohammed Abdelaziz of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed of Somalia, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Government representatives with full powers to sign, is the first ever legally binding international instrument which will ensure that the humanitarian needs of the Internally displaced people are catered for.
The instrument will also be used to pressurise the United Nations and the international community to recognise the IDPs’ plight by providing support.
The African Union comprises 52 member states. - ZANIS
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