The Refugee And The Right To An Effective Remedy In International Law

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................... i

DECLARATION ...................................................................................................... iii

APPROVAL ............................................................................................................. iv

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................ v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................ vi

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................. ix

LIST OF CASES ........................................................................................................ x

LIST OF STATUTES ............................................................................................... xi

CHAPTER ONE ....................................................................................................... !

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ !

1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................ !

1.1 Background of the Law of Refugees (Effective Remedies) ............................. .!

1.2 Background of the Study ..................................................... : ............................. 2

1.3 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................... 5

1.4 Objectives of the Study ...................................................................................... 7

1.4.1 General Objective .............................................................................................. 7

1.4.2 Specific Objectives ............................................................................................ 7

1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 7

1.6 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................. 8

I. 7 Hypothesis ......................................................................................................... 8

1.8 Significance of the Study ................................................................................... 8

1.9 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 9

1.10 Literature Review ............................................................................................ ! 0

1.1 0.1 Circumstances Leading to Abuse of the Rights of Refugees .................... ! 0

1.10.2 Abuse of the Rights of Refugees in Presence of the Law ........................... l2

1.10.3 Assumptions that can be Considered in Amending the Law ofRefugees.l5

1.11 Synopsis ........................................................................................................... 17

CHAPTER TW0 .................................................................................................... 19

INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC LEGAL FORCE ON THE RIGHT TO

AN EFFECTIVE REMEDY ......................................................................... 19

2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 19

2.2 International Legislation on the Rights of Refugees ....................................... 21

2.2.1 The Afi·ican Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) ................... 22

2.2.2 Convention on the Status of the Rights of a Refugee ........................... 25

2.3 Domestic Legislation ....................................................................................... 26

2.3.1 The Constitution of the Republic ofUganda ................................................... 26

2.3 .2 The Refugee Act (2006) .................................................................................. 28

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................ 29

CRITIQUE OF THE SUPPORTIVE LAW ......................................................... 29

3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 29

3.2 The Law ofRefugees ....................................................................................... 29

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................... 35

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS ........................... 35

4.1 lntroduction ..................................................................................................... .:J5

4.2 Circumstances Leading to the Abuse of the Rights of Refugees in Uganda ... 35

4.3 Abuse of the Rights of Refugees in Presence of an lntemational Human

Rights Law ...................................................................................................... .40

4.4 Addressing the Existing Gaps in the Law ....................................................... .45

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................... .47

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................... 47

5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... .47

5.2 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 47

5.3 RecOimnendations ........................................................................................... 49

5.3.3. Redirecting the Eff01ts of the UNHCR ......................................................... .49

5.3.4 There is Need to Reinstate a Competent Enforcement Body ......................... 50

5.3.6 Tmth and Reconciliation ................................................................................. 51

REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 52 

ABSTRACT

This study on "The Refugee and the Right to an Effective Remedy in International Law" was specifically carried out to; examine the circumstances leading to abuse of the rights of refugees; establish why the rights of refugees continue to be abused in Uganda, despite the existence of international human rights law; and to suggest possible assumptions that can be adopted to address the existing gaps. To comprehend this, literature was reviewed on the specific variables and the study was mainly centered on book and documentary evidences thus was qualitatively driven. The study established that while the right of refugees to an effective remedy is adequately provided for under the international and domestic law, it is not easily accessed. While intemational law and its protection or monitoring mechanisms aim to ensure that this right is available to all, in most cases they can only go as far as making declarations on state violaticm of its obligations but cannot impose to the state to satisfy its obligations. The plight of the refugee can therefore be best redressed in the domestic setting when the state takes on to ensure that it protects all without discrimination. This is because although states are obliged to check on each other, conditions remain unfulfilled since this is rarely done. The study concludes that problems of refugees encountered at domestic level with regard to the right to an effective remedy, namely access and enforceability seem to be replicated both at the regional and international levels. The examination reveals that the state is indeed in the best position to ensure the right to an effective remedy since neither the intemational nor regional bodies can guarantee that right. It all comes back full circle to the state fulfilling its human rights obligations without discrimination and in good faith. The study reconunends; ensuring independent vu monitoring, empowering competent institutions to reinforce the law, conceited effmt and redirecting the effort of the UNHCR.