Legal Analysis of Provisions of Kampala Convention and Protection of IDPS

Abstract

Displacement makes victims vulnerable. It also results to other issues like criminality, forced pregnancy, overcrowding, over stretched facilities in trust communities, insecurity, dearth of basic needs of the victims like food, water supply, poor medication and inadequate shelter or housing. Displacement occurs round the globe. It occurs in the West, Asian States, African countries and even the Caribbean. Incidences of displacement in Nigeria has been linked to factors like armed conflict between state actors and some non-state arm bearing groups like the Boko Haram Militias in the North, the Islam Society of West African Provinces ISWAP and other groups that have perpetrated acts forcing many out of their homes. Notably among the groups is the Fulani herdsmen who attack and kill farmers and innocent citizens and take over their communities. Natural disaster, human rights violations, generalized violence and government and man made displacements are on the increase. In Nigeria no legislation exists to advance rights of IDPs. However, at the regional level, the Kampala convention adopted by member states of African Union has influenced the consciousness for protection of IDPs globally. This paper is aimed at analyzing the provisions of the African Union Convention for promotion and protection of Welfare and Assistance to IDPs also known as Kampala document or Kampala Convention. The paper examined the extent to which the provisions have protected victims of internal displacement and made useful recommendation.