The protection of internally displaced children in Africa: A doctrinal analysis of article 23(4) of the African children’s charter
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Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
This article considers the protection of, and assistance for, internally displaced children (IDCs) in Africa. Internal displacement has become one of Africa’s most pressing human rights challenges. Over the last decade, millions of persons have been
internally displaced on the continent by conflict, disaster and other causes.
Children are one of the most affected categories of persons, given the implications
of displacement for them. Article 23(4) of the African Charter on the Rights and
Welfare of the Child incorporates specific protection for IDCs. This article examines
the protection of IDCs in the context of this regional framework. It argues that,
while article 23(4) requires that both refugee children and IDCs should be accorded
the same protection from a rights-based perspective, it also requires that the protection of IDCs should be construed with reference to the Kampala Convention, which
is the most recent applicable regional regime governing internal displacement.
Description
Keywords
Internal displacement, Internally displaced persons, Children, African children’s charter, Kampala convention, Africa
Citation
Adeola, R., & Mezmur, B. D. (2021). The protection of internally displaced children in Africa: A doctrinal analysis of article 23(4) of the African children’s charter. Journal of African Law, 65(1),115–129. 10.1017/S002185532100005X