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ABIDJAN DECLARATION: TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE

West Africa celebrates the 2 nd anniversary of the Abidjan Declaration on the eradication of statelessness. Over the last two years, the region achieved significant progress as illustrated below:

CELEBRATING THE 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION

In February, West Africa celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of the Abidjan Declaration, a regional commitment in support of the global campaign to end statelessness. Activities took place across the region, ranging from TV shows, University debates, press releases and visual campaigns. The region once again showed its support and enthusiasm towards the Declaration.

Regional Celebration of the Abidjan Declaration

ECOWAS and UNHCR organised a high level panel in Abuja to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Abidjan Declaration. The 15 Ambassadors of the ECOWAS member states and international agencies attended the event. High Level ECOWAS officials underscored the importance of the Abidjan Declaration, and called upon States to make a step forward towards the eradication of statelessness by adopting a legally binding instrument. Great emphasis was also placed the necessity of regional cooperation, the most effective way to put an end to the scourge of statelessness in West Africa.

• In Senegal, the government and UNHCR issued a joint press release in which Senegal reinforced its commitment to end statelessness. On the date of the anniversary, one of the most popular TV channels in the country broadcasted a special show on statelessness presented by High Profile Supporter Aby Ndour. The program featured a discussion with UNHCR, parliament representatives, and artists such as Bideew Bou Bess and Cheikh Lo, on the causes of and solutions to statelessness.

• In Burkina Faso, messages on statelessness were sent to the general public via SMS in an effort to mass sensitize the population on the issue. In addition, UNHCR provided registration materials to the civil registry center in the Sahel region, where a large number of undocumented Malian refugees reside. The objective was to strengthen the capacity of the registration center while sensitizing both the authorities and the population on the risks of statelessness.

• In Ghana, UNHCR organized a series of awareness-raising activities targeting the media and the general public. A media forum on ‘Addressing Statelessness in the Ghanaian Context’ was attended by the BBC and other major media outlets. In the days leading up to the Anniversary, the issue of statelessness in Ghana was covered via radio, TV and print media. A debate organized by ‘Friends of UNHCR’ – a volunteer-based initiative aimed at engaging university students – took place among journalists and the general public on the issue of proof of nationality.

• In Côte d’Ivoire, UNHCR was engaged in a media campaign to sensitize the public about statelessness. UNHCR published a press release and launched a video on the national channel, RTI, which included appearances by various well-known Ivorian personalities.

• In Guinea-Bissau, the popular singer, Binham, helped to spread the message about statelessness during his 4 concerts in the towns of Bissau, Gabú and Bafatá. The singer, who has been increasingly supportive of UNHCR’s efforts, used his concerts advocate for eradicating statelessness and to distribute informational materials. His charisma and energetic performances were invaluable in assisting UNHCR to spread the message across Guinea-Bissau.

• In Guinea, the Committee to End Statelessness and UNHCR organized a visual campaign, by placing banners and posters in strategic points throughout Conakry and Nzérékoré, including at the airport, town halls, ministries, and at civil society organizations.

• In Ekpoma town, in southern Nigeria, the Faculty of Law at Ambrose Alli University celebrated the anniversary by presenting a seminar paper titled “The Eradication of Statelessness in West Africa: The Role of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.” After the seminar, participants continued to sensitize students on statelessness.

• On 10 March 2017, Togo UNHCR held a meeting with government and civil society representatives to assess the current level of implementation of the Abidjan Declaration in Togo. The government adopted a roadmap, and prioritised two actions: the accession to both Conventions, and adoption, by decree, of the National Action Plan.