Briefing Paper

Complementarity: The Global Compact on Refugees and 1969 OAU Refugee Convention

This policy brief highlights three areas where the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) can support
the implementation of the 1969 Organization of African Unity Refugee Convention. These are:
enhancing African solidarity and international cooperation; promoting regional approaches; ensuring
non-refolument and facilitating voluntary repatriation. The African Union’s 2019 theme on refugees,
returnees and internally displaced persons offers an opportunity to reflect on the complementarity
of the GCR and the Convention.