[PHOTOS]: Stakeholders explore lasting solutions to global refugee crisis

Having over 65 million refugees around the world is a failure of world leaders to promote good governance, lack of international solidarity, value for human dignity and the results of violation of fundamental human rights, stakeholders have said. The stakeholders made the remarks on Monday in Kigali in a discussion about lasting solutions for refugee crises as part of events to mark this year’s World Refugee Day. Azam Saber, UNHCR Representative in Rwanda gives his remarks during the World Refugee day celebrations in Kigali. The event brought together senior government officials, officials from United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), diplomats, political and legal experts, refugees’ representatives, among others. “The World Refugee Day should help the world to explore in depth the role of good governance, in searching for even more durable and sustainable solutions, looking essentially into preventive measures that foster stability,” said Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi. Dr Christopher Kayumba, a researcher and political analyst speaks during the event in Kigali. Murekezi said the World Refugee Day also served as a reminder to everybody to rethink the root causes of people’s displacements and lasting solutions. He said Rwanda, as a signatory to the 1951 Convention Related to Refugees, that hosts thousands of Burundian refugees, its international obligations toward the Convention – to receive refugees on its territory. Rwanda hosts over 162,000 refugees, majority of them from Burundi and DR Congo. A burundian refugee asks a question during the world Refugee Day celebrations in Kigali. The world in general hosts over 65 million refugees, according to UNHCR 2015 figures. Murekezi said Rwanda relates very much with the World Refugee Day. Participants follow proceedings during the World Refugee day celebrations in Kigali. “In our own history, since 1959 to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the problem of Rwandan refugees had become endemic,” he said, adding that however efforts were made to see more than 3.4 Rwandan refugees repatriate, and were successfully reintegrated,” the premier said. While Rwanda and other countries continue to show generosity in receiving refugees, Murekezi added, the management of refugees remain a shared unconditional responsibility with the international community. Bishop John Rucyahana, chairman of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission speaks during the World Refugee day celebrations in Kigali. “Although the Convention provides for durable solutions related to voluntary repatriation, resettlement and local integration, the problems of refugees cannot be solved unless the root causes that push people into exile are efficiently addressed and eliminated,” he said.Experts’ take Most of the stakeholders said there was need to promote good governance, and revise the legal framework provisions vis-à-vis refugees protection, while promoting human rights and dignity. Louise Aubin, Deputy Director Division of International Protection at UNHCR said the number of refugees keeps growing owing to increased human right violations. Louise Aubin, deputy director of Division of International Protection at UNHCR, said the number of refugees keeps growing owing to increased human right violations that result into human displacements and refugee influx. To find durable solutions, Aubin said, there is a need for political will to go beyond hosting and supporting refugees but rather being innovative and creative and upholding the sense of humanity. Dr. Usta Kayitesi, Principal of the College of Arts and Humanities at University of Rwanda said the legal frameworks on refugees established decades ago needs revising. Dr Usta Kayitesi, principal of the College of Arts and Humanities, University of Rwanda, said the legal frameworks related to refugees established decades ago need revising, adding that the rights to nationalities is a fundamental right entitled to every citizen. “When you look at legal framework, the reality is very challenging as Europe and any other parts of the world 60 years ago are not the same today,” Kayitesi said. Bishop John Rucyahana, chairperson of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, likened being a refugee to a tree that is uprooted and expected to grow. Participants follow proceedings during the World Refugee day celebrations in Kigali. “We need to seek the best approach to tackle the state of refugees, can’t we collectively look at how to really restore human dignity that cause refugees influx?” wondered Rucyahana. For Dr Christopher Kayumba, a researcher and political analyst, refugees influx is human created situation and the solution can be sought from within. A side view of the Mahama Refugee Camp that hosts thousands of Burundian refugees. (All photos by Timothy Kisambira) The problem is not refugees but the conditions that create refugees such as wars, Kayumba said, adding that to avoid refugees there is need for early warning systems and actions on those warnings. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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[PHOTOS]: Stakeholders explore lasting solutions to global refugee crisis