The Human Rights Commission has commended government, co-operating and development partners for successively hosting United Nations Refugee Day today.
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has applauded the Zambian government and its co-operating partners for the continued and accelerated efforts made towards promoting and protecting the rights of asylum seekers.
Human rights commission Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga said in a statement made available to ZANIS today that the commission has in the last three weeks been assessing the human rights situation in various refugee transit camps and resettlements such as Kenani Refugee Transit Centre and Mantapala Refugee Settlement in Luapula Province.
Others are Maheba Refugee Settlement in North-western Province and Mushakende Refugee Settlement in Western Province.
Mr. Mwandenga said the overall findings were that the Zambian government with financial and technical assistance from various partners such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), local and international Non-Governmental Organisations and the respective local communities is doing its best to promote and protect the rights of asylum seekers.
He stated that the commission further commends government for developing and implementing a comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) at Mantapala Refugee Resettlement which focusses on both humanitarian and sustainable livelihoods of asylum seekers in an integrated manner with the local communities.
Mr. Mwandenga pointed out that the on-going construction of learning, health, water supply and sanitation and security related infrastructure at Mantapala is highly commendable as it will contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of both the asylum seekers, as well as the host communities.
He however called on the International Community and various stakeholders to scale up financial, technical and moral support to the Zambian Government to enable it meet its international obligation of supporting asylum seekers.
The United Nations Refugee Day was declared in 2000 with a view of raising global awareness on the global shared responsibilities for millions of children, women and men who are forced to flee their countries mainly from threats of persecution, violence and conflict.
Currently, the global estimated number of refugees is 68.5 million and as of February 2018, Zambia was hosting more than 70,000 refugees.
