The Mohamed family at Belet Amin IDP settlement, Somalia © K. Haughton/Trócaire

"The Convention is a major achievement. It represents the will and determination of African States and peoples to address and resolve the problem of internal displacement in Africa."

Dr Chaloka Beyani, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, 23 October 2010

The adoption of the Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Africa by the African Union (AU) in October 2009 has been described as an historic accomplishment. The so-called Kampala Convention is the first legally binding regional instrument in the world to impose on states the obligation to protect and assist IDPs.

However, to enter into force and become legally binding, the Convention has to be ratified by 15 countries.

Since it was endorsed in Kampala, a growing number of states have shown their determination to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Convention by signing it, but the number of ratifications remains insufficient. It has been signed by 35 of the 53 AU member states. While 14 states have completed their internal ratification processes, only 11 have completed the AU ratification procedures. These include: Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

The Convention applies to displacement caused by a wide range of causes – from conflict and human rights violations to natural or man-made disaster and development projects – and provides standards for the protection of people from arbitrary displacement, the protection of IDPs while they are displaced and durable solutions to their displacement.

The Convention in brief

• Before displacement:Preventing displacement from happening
• During displacement:Protecting and assisting displaced people
• Bringing displacement to an end:Seeking durable solutions
• Making the Convention real:From paper to action

Displacement in Africa

Read more about displacement in Africa

Life in Limbo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo thousands are forced to flee there homes forcing them to be displaced within the borders of their own country. A documentary commissioned by UNHCR and the Norwegian Refugee Council examines how the Kampala Convention may help to address the issues faced by IDPs.

Copies of the documentary are available from IDMC, in English and French and Portuguese.

Focus on countries

Voices of IDPs

Guide for civil society

Training Materials

Resources