Memorandum of Understanding on refugees, UNHCR and ECOWAS.

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Volume 2165, II-1242 7. Considering that, in order to attain these objectives, UNHCR accords primacy to activities performed in the areas <strong>of</strong> peace and security, democracy and political stability, respect for rule <strong>of</strong> law and human rights as well as social and economic development; 8. Bearing in mind that the special protection and assistance needs <strong>of</strong> refugee women and children and unaccompanied minors who, together, constitute the overwhelming majority <strong>of</strong> any refugee or internally displaced population, is central to the fulfilment <strong>of</strong> UN- HCR's mandate; 9. Determined that these issues should be resolved in a manner consistent with the relevant legal, humanitarian and human rights principles which take account <strong>of</strong> legitimate political, social and economic interests <strong>of</strong> all the countries and Member States <strong>of</strong> ECOW- AS; 10. Convinced that co-operation between the parties hereto will serve their purposes and mutual interests more adequately and render their respective activities more beneficial to ECOWAS Member States and UNHCR; The two Contracting Parties have agreed as follows: Article I. Obiective The objective <strong>of</strong> this Agreement is to establish a framework for a multisectional cooperation between ECOWAS and UNHCR, in agreed areas, as well as to facilitate cooperation between UNHCR and Governments <strong>of</strong> ECOWAS Member States in the same agreed areas; Article II. Areas <strong>of</strong> Co-operation The parties shall co-operate in the following areas: 1. Refugees and asylum seekers, particularly refugee women and children and unaccompanied minors, forced population movements into and within the region, asylum and refugee protection principles, humanitarian and human rights law i.e. refoulement, expulsion, arbitrary detention, education, freedom <strong>of</strong> movement, etc. 2. Organised and spontaneous voluntary repatriation, as well as related rehabilitation and reintegration activities; local settlement and resettlement within ECOWAS countries; 3. Establishment and development <strong>of</strong> mechanisms for managing and addressing the root causes <strong>of</strong> refugee situations and issues related to security concerns in camps and areas hosting refugees, returnees and populations <strong>of</strong> concern to UNHCR; 4. Post conflict recovery, prevention and early warning activities and measures; 5. Promotion <strong>of</strong> refugee law and legislation and status determination procedures within ECOWAS countries i.e. harmonisation <strong>of</strong> national legislations and procedures with ECOWAS Treaty as regards freedom <strong>of</strong> movement, properties, social welfare, etc .; 6. Funding for internally displaced persons, refugees, and returnees related activities to be carried out by ECOWAS and UNHCR together; 175
Volume 2165, II-1242 7. Joint training activities related to refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons or any other persons <strong>of</strong> concern to UNHCR. Article III. Institutional Arrangement 1. The Executive Secretary, on behalf <strong>of</strong> ECOWAS and the UNHCR Regional Director for West And Central Africa Bureau on behalf <strong>of</strong> UNHCR, shall be responsible for the implementation <strong>of</strong> this <strong>Memorandum</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Understanding</strong>. 2. ECOWAS will undertake to inform all Member States and relevant regional and international organisations <strong>of</strong> this <strong>Memorandum</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Understanding</strong>. 3. UNHCR will undertake to inform all its Representatives within ECOWAS Member States and all relevant organisations and operational partners <strong>of</strong> this <strong>Memorandum</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Understanding</strong>. Article IV. Functions <strong>of</strong> the Co-operating institutions ECOWAS and UNHCR shall: 1. In accordance with their respective mandates, address the social, economic, political and security issues in the sub-region, particularly those which have a bearing on the root causes <strong>of</strong> forced population displacement, refugee protection, provision <strong>of</strong> humanitarian assistance, and the search for durable solutions; 2. Establish and or strengthen mechanisms, procedures and institutions at national, regional and international level, in order to create sustainable local capacity for the provision <strong>of</strong> protection and assistance to refugees, particularly refugee women and children and unaccompanied minors, returnees and other persons <strong>of</strong> concern to UNHCR and to give effect wherever necessary to the concept <strong>of</strong> burden sharing; 3. Promote accession to international and regional instruments relating to refugees, particularly refugee women and children, unaccompanied minors, stateless persons and statelessness as well as other persons <strong>of</strong> concern to UNHCR and encourage ECOWAS countries to enact or amend, as appropriate, their national refugee legislation in accordance with these instruments and human rights, and humanitarian principles foreseen within the ECOWAS Treaty; 4. Initiate and support academic research and studies on refugees in particular refugee women and children, unaccompanied minors and persons <strong>of</strong> concern to UNHCR as well as relevant training for Government <strong>of</strong>ficials, Non Governmental Organisations and staff members <strong>of</strong> other organisations; with a view to promoting awareness and respect <strong>of</strong> refugee law in particular, and humanitarian and human rights principles in general; 5. Promote public awareness and proper understanding <strong>of</strong> refugees and forced population movements, and the need for their protection and assistance; through advocacy studies and promotion activities related to refugee law, human rights and humanitarian principles; 176
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Memorandum of Understanding on refugees, UNHCR and ECOWAS.

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