Africa: UN Representatives welcome appointment of African rapporteurs

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, and that of Internally Displaced Persons, Francis Deng, welcomed the appointment by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights of special rapporteurs on human rights defenders and on refugees and internally displaced persons. The Commission appointed Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga of Tanzania as Special Rapporteur on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. Mr. Nyanduga faces a daunting challenge, as Africa is the continent most affected by forcible displacement, with almost 13 million internally displaced persons, out of a global total of 25 million, and over three million refugees, the majority of whom suffer from the most acute violations of human rights.