On Thursday, 15 September 2011 the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with Lawyers for Human Rights and the South African Institute of International Affairs presented the Nansen Lecture “Migration in Africa, An Enduring Phenomenon?” at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg. Adv. George Bizos, distinguished human rights lawyer was the special guest for the evening and Dr. Chaloka Beyani, senior lecturer in International Law at the London School of Economics and UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, delivered the keynote speech.
Dr. Beyani's presentation
Adv. Bizos' presentation
2011 marks the 60th Anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 50th Anniversary of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. It is also the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Fritjof Nansen, a noted explorer and scientist. A prominent humanitarian, he was appointed the first Commissioner for Refugees for the League of Nations. This Nansen Lecture is one of a series being held this year in Washington, New York, Addis Ababa and Geneva.
Read more about the lecture