Sharm El Sheikh, 21 November 2024 – Egypt hosted the Africa Chapter of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) conference, supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, from 17 to 21 November in Sharm El Sheikh.
The IARMJ conference brings together judges and legal experts from across the African continent to enhance regional dialogue and promote international and regional refugee law standards, discussing topics on refugee protection, solutions, mixed movements, trafficking and asylum systems among others.
Participants included delegations from 22 countries and a high-level delegation from the Egyptian Government, representing the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Ministry of Justice and Interior— reflecting Egypt’s commitment to advancing the legal and institutional framework for refugee protection. This commitment was further demonstrated by the Egyptian Parliament’s approval of the asylum law, which establishes a normative framework for a domestic asylum system –on the first day of the conference.
Mr. Hossam Hesham Sadek, Deputy Minister of Justice for International Cooperation, delivered the keynote speech, underscoring the government’s dedication to refugee protection, while Ambassador Dr. Wael Badawi, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Refugees, Migration and Combatting Human Trafficking at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered the opening remarks.
“It is a very timely and important conference, with the increasing influxes of forcibly displaced persons in Africa. This conference allowed for in depth experience and best practice sharing among judges in the application of refugee and migration laws. The partnership with the IARMJ, UNHCR and European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) is a significant contribution for the success of this event.” Ambassador Dr. Wael Badawi.
Mr. Justice Mlambo, President of the Africa Chapter of the IARMJ, thanked the Egyptian Government for hosting the conference and also congratulated Egypt on adopting an asylum law. He reiterated the relevance of the conference saying, “The conference is timely, especially given the issue of responsibility sharing, a critical topic for states hosting large numbers of refugees, such as Egypt, which hosts one of the largest refugee populations on the continent.”
The timing of the IARMJ conference in Sharm El Sheikh is particularly significant as it coincides with the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has led to the displacement of more than 11 million people affecting Sudan and its neighboring countries. The ongoing conflict underscores the urgent need for robust regional dialogue and cooperation in addressing refugee protection challenges. The conflict has resulted in a surge of individuals seeking asylum in neighboring countries, highlighting the importance of the conference’s focus on enhancing the application of international and regional legal frameworks.
Dr. Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR Representative to the Government of Egypt and to the League of Arab States, emphasized the role of judges and quasi-judicial decision-makers in ensuring that individuals seeking protection outside their country of origin receive effective protection in accordance with their rights. She highlighted the importance of applying the 1951 Convention, as well as other applicable international, regional, and national laws, fairly, consistently, and in accordance with the rule of law.
UNHCR Egypt looks forward to expanding its partnership with the IARMJ, especially as Egypt prepares to fully implement the 1951 Convention and the 1969 OAU Convention, and to uphold international and regional refugee standards.
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