DRAFT AGENDA

(April 5, 2004)

April 14th

09:30 - 10:30 Opening Ceremony

Welcome: Conference organizers and host government representative

Opening Address: Guest Speaker: Ibrahima Fall, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region

Overview of conference objectives: Conference organizers

Identifying the Challenges: A decade after the 1994 Rwandan refugee exodus what is the current state of refugee rights protection in the Great Lakes region? Keynote Presentation: Dr. Bonaventure Rutinwa, Senior Lecturer, University of Dar es Salaam

Reflecting Diverse Perspectives: A panel discussion reflecting responses to the challenges set out in the previous session from different perspectives (Wairimu Karago, Regional Coordinator, Great Lakes Operation, UNHCR, Judy Wakahiu, Executive Director, Refugee Consortium of Kenya, Professor Joseph Oloka-Onyango, Faculty of Law, Makerere University,* and Honorable Norbert Mao, Chairman, AMANI Group)
Facilitator: TBC

Each working group will be framed by a brief (10 minute) expert presentation-including reference to concrete cases-and the circulation of a set of key questions. The discussion will guided
by a facilitator.



Refugees and the Calculations of Security: Can resurgence in militarization/use of force in response to refugees be identified in the region? How is the global "war on terror" affecting protection and the attitude of States towards refugees? How can protection and security be reconciled? What is the role of NGOs?

Experts:

Zachary Lomo, Director, Refugee Law Project, Makerere University; Dr. Makumi Mwagiru, Director of the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi

Going Home: The politics of repatriation, refugee rights in the negotiation of peace agreements and the assurance of voluntariness. Are there lessons to be learned from Uganda and Tanzania? What is the role of NGOs in ensuring safe return (e.g. information collection, monitoring)? What are the essential conditions for sustainable return?

Experts:

Joel Harding, Refugee Protection Programme Manager, International Rescue Committee, and Professor John Okumu, Center for Refugee Studies, Moi University

Refugee Economic and Social Rights: What models available can make a difference? A critical exploration of the Zambia Initiative, the Tanzanian experience and the Uganda Self Reliance Strategy. Is there a link to sustainable return?

Experts:

Lucy Hovil, Director, Research and Advocacy Department, Refugee Law Project*
Geoffrey Mulenga, Lecturer, Faculty of Law,
University of Zambia*

Three short presentations followed by plenary discussion:

Civil society discourse and responsibilities: How can NGOs work to shape a positive public discourse about refugees? How can host communities and/or civil society outside of Africa be engaged?

Expert:

Eva Ayiera, Advocacy Programme Officer, Refugee Consortium of Kenya

Regional and sub-regional organizations: Are there ways in which regional and sub-regional institutions can be more effectively harnessed to enhance refugee protection in the Great Lakes? The African Union and the ECOWAS example as models?

Expert:

Chidi Odinkalu, Open Society Institute

The Wider International Context: To what extent can regressive policies in the region be linked to the failure of regional and/or international actors to appropriately "burden share"? What lessons can be learned from the Rwanda Exodus? How and where could a more energetic advocacy effort be directed?

Refugee Advocates: Is the role and authority of UNHCR under threat? How is the international arena changing for UNCHR? How are relationships with states affected? What are the effects on the ground? In light of this, how can the exercise of UNHCR's vital protection function be strengthened? What role can NGOs play in helping UNHCR to reassert its authority and play a greater complementary function with respect to protection? Is there a need to rethink relationships?

Expert:

Judy Wakahiu, Executive Director, Refugee Consortium of Kenya

Facilitator:

Manisha Thomas, Humanitarian Officer, ICVA- International Council of Voluntary Agencies

Resettlement and Durable Solutions: What role can different approaches to resettlement play in enhancing protection and contributing to durable solutions in the Great Lakes —"strategic" use of resettlement? Are there ways in which international and national NGOs in the Great Lakes can work more effectively together? Where does UNHCR fit?

Expert:

Darius Ellis, Country Director, HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya