TNAG-0975-FCO40-1194-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 115

EC/SCP/13 page 10

ANNEX

OAU CONVENTION

GOVERNING THE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF REFUGEE PROBLEMS IN AFRICA

ARTICLE V

VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION

The essentially voluntary character of repatriation shall be respected in all cases and no refugee shall be repatriated against his will.

2.

The country of asylum, in collaboration with the country of origin, shall make adequate arrangements for the safe return of refugees who request repatriation.

3. The country of origin, on receiving back: refugees, shall facilitate their resettlement and grant them the full rights and privileges of nationals of the country, and subject then to the same obligations.

4. Refugees who voluntarily return to their country shall in no way be penalized for having left it for any of the reasons giving rise to refugee situations. Whenever necessary, an appeal shall be made through national information media and through the Administrative Secretary-General of the QAU, inviting refugees to retum home and giving assurance that the new circumstances prevailing in their country of origin will enable them to return without risk and to take up a normal and peaceful life without fear of being disturbed or punished, and that the text of such appeal should be given to refugees and clearly explained to them by their country of asylum.

5.

Refugees who freely decide to return to their homeland, as a result of such assurances or on their own initiative, shall be given every possible assistance by the country of asylum, the country of origin, voluntary agencies and international and intergovernmental organizations, to facilitate their return.

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