BACKGROUND AND AGENDA FOR ANRPN FORUM

Introduction

The protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of states. Yet the on-going problem of conflict, and the large-scale persecution it often results in, continues to produce more and more refugees in need of protection. States, charged with the responsibility of protecting them, are finding it increasingly difficult to cope. Over the last fifty years, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have come into being with the specific aim of helping and monitoring states in their function as protectors of displaced persons. However, the current atmosphere shows an alarming trend towards states becoming less willing to take on the role of protector. In many cases, this is for fear of assuming open-ended responsibilities, and real or perceived threats to their national security. Developing countries argue that the burdens of asylum are not shared equally: while they host thousands, and sometimes millions of refugees, wealthier countries are restricting access to their own territories and reducing support to the countries of first asylum.

The African NGO Refugee Protection Network aims to draw together non-state actors in the field of refugee protection in an effort to foster a culture of support and collaboration, with a view to strengthening the protection of refugees and IDPs, primarily in the Great Lakes Region, but in close conjunction with other African networks.

1. Rejuvenation of the network
2. Redefinition of the goals and objectives of the network
3. A situational analysis of the problems faced by members
4. Examination of the hosting and administration of ANRPN
5. Recommendations for a plan of action

NETWORK REVIEW 2004

The African NGO Refugee Protection Network was conceived at a 3-day workshop held in June 2001. The workshop, entitled “Working for Refugees Rights: the role of NGO’s”, was a joint initiative of the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) and UNIFEM’s African Women in Crisis Programme (AFWIC) to assess the quality of service provided by local NGO’s working with refugees and IDPs in the East, Central and Horn of Africa region. The workshop placed particular significance on the enhancement of the position of women in the context of economic empowerment. The ANRPN was forged within the following framework:

Objectives

The objectives of the ANRPN were set out to be the following:

• To serve as a forum for information sharing by facilitating the collection and dissemination of information.
  
• To collaborate with other networks in the region with similar and complementary objectives in order to strengthen advocacy for protection and promotion of refugee and IDP rights, and the enjoyment of human rights by refugees and IDPs.
  
• To facilitate public education and awareness on issues relating to Refugees and IDPs.
  
• To build links between NGOs and academic institutions.
  
• To act as a vehicle for advocacy in the region.
  
• To facilitate access to information, training and education for refugees and internally displaced persons.
  
• To lobby national governments to sign and ratify international instruments on refugees and IDPs. To incorporate these instruments into national regimes in order to allow for their implementation; and to urge governments to take their international responsibilities seriously and to observe
  good practice.
  
• To facilitate the training of NGOs in refugee law and to promote the indivisibility of human rights.
  
• To mainstream Gender in the protection of refugees and IDPs.
  

Membership

Membership of the network is open to all those who have an interest in forced migration issues. There are however three categories into which the members fall, these being:

• Core activists on refugee issues
  
• Affiliates, in the form of human rights organizations
  
• Those who need informing and influencing but not as active members
  

The Board

• The network has a board of four members, who are in charge of policy making, fundraising and budgetary oversight.
  
• The Board will act as an interim steering committee for the network.
  
• The geographical focus would encompass the East African Community, IGAD, East, Central and Horn of Africa, with flexibility.
  
• Country representation on the Board initially as present (KY, UG, Sudan).
  
• Chair should not be from same country as secretariat.
  
• Coordinator to be ex-officio member of the board.
  
• Ideal number should be seven with a quorum of four.
  
• The criteria for Board membership to include organizations active on human rights issues, and the board must be representational of the geographical focus.
  

Infrastructure

At present, the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in Kampala, Uganda hosts the ANRPN. Initially, it was envisaged that the hosting of the network would rotate, as this would encourage greater commitment amongst members. However, in the operational report of 2002 it was made clear that the network had taken considerable effort to establish, and as such it would be sensible for it to remain at the RLP for a little longer. The ANRPN has one staff member, in the position of Network Coordinator. The network therefore relies heavily upon the resources and administrative structure of the RLP to maintain efficient process of its activities.

In order to foster collaboration and support its members, the network carried out various activities during the period 2002 to 2003. These activities were further expanded to include hosting discussion groups with the specific goal of engaging member NGO’s more deeply in the collaboration. At present the discussion group is physical in nature and hosted in Kampala, but construction of the ANRPN website is currently in progress, and this will host an online forum to allow members from around Africa to contribute to the discussions and keep other members up to date with their activities. The ANRPN site will also include a directory of members and other useful contacts, and a news section. The web address will be www.anrpn.org.

Activities previously undertaken

• Creating and regularly updating a database of refugee activist organizations in the region.
  
• Exploring, downloading and processing material on refugees and internally displaced people from the Internet.
  
• Maintaining electronic and hard copy lists of old new and potential network members and affiliates.
  
• Circulating studies on global and regional refugee and IDP issues to network members.
  
• Serving as a liaison between and among members by being able to redirect questions to relevant organizations.
  
• Carrying out electronic research for members and affiliates to enable them to substantiate cases they are dealing with.
  
• Giving visibility to the work of member organizations and institutions by publishing their reports and studies.
  
• Providing an updated bibliography on resource material pertaining to relevant issues.
  
• Disseminating information about the network’s activities.
  

Recent activities

• Hosting monthly discussion group the Forced Migration Club, at the RLP.
  This activity was initiated with the goal of engaging members in a physical collaboration and providing a forum to exchange ideas and ask questions, provide visibility for organizations, and build bridges between academia and NGO’s.
  
• Providing training support to the Education and Training Department at the RLP. This activity provides the network with a hands-on approach to facilitating the public education and awareness on issues of forced migration and facilitation of access to information for refugees and IDPs.