Workshop for East African Legislators

In April 2002, Human Rights First’s International Refugee Program, the Refugee Law Project of Uganda and the Refugee Consortium of Kenya co-sponsored a two-day workshop for Members of Parliament (MPs) from both Kenya and Uganda in Mombasa to discuss refugee issues in the region. The workshop, the first of its kind in East Africa, provided a forum for the legislators to discuss refugee matters, particularly in the context of the upcoming debates of draft legislation in both Kenya and Uganda parliaments. Participants were able to compare ways in which their countries approached refugee policy and raise their own concerns about the pressures of hosting refugees in their constituencies.

This regional approach, bringing together legislators from both countries around a single legislative issue, was particularly relevant in the context of the rebirth of the East African Community (EAC). The EAC, resurrected from its collapse in 1977, brings together Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to cooperate on issues of regional interest including, among other concerns, immigration, trade and communication.

Speakers at the workshop included respected academics, politicians and human rights practitioners and was opened by representatives of each of the NGOs co-sponsors.

The workshop addressed a wide range of issues including the process of legislation on refugees in Uganda and Kenya, the contents of the of draft legislations from the two countries and the Tanzanian experience of enacting and implementing national refugee legislation. A copy of the workshop proceedings is available on the website of the African NGO Refugee Protection Network.

The workshop created a great deal of momentum around refugee issues in the region which it is hoped will help in passing positive refugee legislation in the region and build strong foundation for refugee protection, not only in East Africa, but also across the continent.