Complementarity: The Global Compact on Refugees and 1969 OAU Refugee Convention

There are three areas in which the Global Compact can support implementation of the Refugee Convention.

This policy brief highlights three areas where the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) can support the implementation of the 1969 Organization of African Unity Refugee Convention. These are: enhancing African solidarity and international cooperation; promoting regional approaches; ensuring non-refolument and facilitating voluntary repatriation. The African Union’s 2019 theme on refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons offers an opportunity to reflect on the complementarity of the GCR and the Convention.

About the authors

Tsion Tadesse Abebe is Senior Researcher with the Migration Programme at the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa.

Allehone Abebe is Senior Legal Officer with the AU’s Department of Political Affairs, seconded by UNHCR.

Marina Sharpe is Senior Legal Officer with UNHCR’s Representation to the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Picture: UNHCR/Duniya Aslam Khan