A/RES/59/172
African Union at its fifth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 30 June to
3 July 2004;
4.
Takes note of the holding of the conference organized by the African
Parliamentary Union and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on
“Refugees in Africa: the challenges of protection and solutions” at Cotonou, Benin,
from 1 to 3 June 2004;
Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High
5.
Commissioner since assuming office in January 2001, and commends the Office of
the High Commissioner for its ongoing efforts, with the support of the international
community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection
and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa;
Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
6.
Refugees to continue to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights, in conjunction with relevant agencies of the United Nations system
and intergovernmental organizations, within their respective mandates, in the
promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of
refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, and welcomes in this regard the
appointment by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights of its
Special Rapporteur on refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa;
Recognizes that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced
7.
persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict
and bear the brunt of atrocities and other consequences of conflict, and in this
regard takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and
security submitted to and discussed by the Security Council; 7
8.
Reiterates the importance of the full and effective implementation of
standards and procedures to better address the specific protection needs of refugee
children and adolescents and to safeguard rights and, in particular, to ensure
adequate attention to unaccompanied and separated children and former child
soldiers in refugee settings, as well as in the context of voluntary repatriation and
reintegration measures;
Notes with great concern that, despite all of the efforts made so far by the
9.
United Nations, the African Union and others, the situation of refugees and
displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, calls upon States and other parties to
armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and the spirit of international
humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes
of forced displacement in Africa, and welcomes in this regard the appointment by
the African Union of its Special Representative on the protection of civilians in
armed conflict;
10. Recognizes the importance of early registration and effective registration
systems and censuses as a tool of protection and as a means to enable the
quantification and assessment of needs for the provision and distribution of
humanitarian assistance and to implement appropriate durable solutions;
11. Also recognizes the need to strengthen the capacity of States to provide
assistance to and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons, and calls
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S/2004/814.