The Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons under the Kampala Convention: An Institutional Approach

Abstract

The Kampala Convention has emerged as a significant regional framework for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa. Over the last decade, the importance of this framework has been reflected at various levels of governance. However, one gap in the literature relates to the institutional arrangements surrounding the Kampala Convention, even as it moves beyond the first decade and has been ratified by nearly two-thirds of the current Member States of the African Union. This issue is the thrust of this article. In particular, it examines how the institutions of the wider African Union system can shape the implementation of the Kampala Convention and better ensure protection and assistance for IDPs in this region.