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The Kampala Convention: Entry Into Force

The world’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) number in the tens of millions; the majority of them are in Africa. IDPs are often profoundly vulnerable and must contend with homelessness, hunger, human rights violations and violence. For years, the African Union has sought to help mitigate the plight of IDPs and now with the entry into force of the Kampala Convention, they have formulated and adopted a legally-binding instrument that can do more to help this population. Chaloka Beyani, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons and co-director of the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement, says that the convention will also promote good governance, peace, stability and security.