The UN Refugee Agency or UNHCR in South Sudan urged the revitalized government to enact a law for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons or IDPs.
South Sudan this week is marking the first anniversary of its accession to the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, also known as the Kampala Convention.
In a statement to CRN, UNHCR reaffirmed its commitment to support the South Sudanese government in building on the momentum gained to strengthen protection of its IDPs.
It commended South Sudan for acceding to the Kampala Convention and developing a bill in consultation with IDPs to enshrine its principles into national law.
UNHCR added that South Sudan is taking increasing ownership of the IDP situation evidenced by drafting action plan in 2020.
It called for urgent enactment of the bill, currently under review by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
UNHCR said passing the legislation would help to rebuild trust with IDPs and the international community and provide a solid base for anchoring response planning, prioritization and appropriate resource allocation.
It noted that upholding IDPs’ human rights and creating an enabling political and legal environment for their assistance and protection, is a key component of implementing the revitalized agreement.
UNHCR also called for an urgent need to end the ongoing violence that continues to displace people within the country.
The Kampala Convention is the world’s first continent-wide legally binding instrument for the protection and assistance of IDPs.
It was adopted at a meeting of the African Union in October 2009 and South Sudan was the 28th country to ratify it in 2019.