South Africa

News Highlights: Tigray refugees tortured for ransom in Libya, UK’s Sunak seeks ECHR reform, Nearly a million displaced in Sudan

In this week’s News Highlights: Peace talks resume in Jeddah – Burhan relieves Hemedti from Deputy position; Humanitarian situation continues to worsen in Sudan; Two humanitarian aid plans for Sudan and refugees to launch; 936 thousand displaced as Sudan conflict continues; Kidnappings of Tigray refugees, trafficking to Libya; Border between Kenya and Somalia to reopen; Floods impact Ethiopia and Somalia; OLF and OLA accuse government of offensive, despite negotiation process; Isaias travels to China for talks; NGOs call for extension of SR mandate and ‘substantive’ assessment in Eritrea; Italy commends Tunisia for efforts on stopping migration; Frontex reports record number of border crossings in Central Mediterranean; Sunak talks with ECHR’s President over UK deportation plan; Greek police rescues a group of 17 migrants and refugees; Concerns over unsanitary conditions in asylum seeker centres in Germany; EU-Montenegro deal to provide Frontex border guards; ECHR ruling on Hungary pushbacks; and South Africa accused of supplying arms to Russia.

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Pan African Parliament tackles the topic of human trafficking in special session day

At its second ordinary session in South Africa, the Pan African Parliament (PAP) dedicated a session day to the Theme of the Year 2019: “The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”. The theme day included presentations and debate on the situations of displacement in Africa and the 1969 Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Refugee Convention, the Kampala Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees. In addition, speakers presented and debated on Regional Perspectives (Regional Econonomic Communities) and Programmes on Refugees, Returnees, Internally Displaced Persons and Statelessness. Human trafficking and its facilitation by technology was discussed.

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