The Protection of Refugee Rights and Security in The Great Lakes Region of Africa. The Case of Kakuma Refugee Camp of Kenya.

ABSTRACT This study undertook to identify the challenges in protection of refugee rights and security in the great lakes region and the study was a case study of Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. The study objectives were to identify factors that contribute to the abuse of refugee rights, to identify potential security threats to refugees, find out the effectiveness of the strategies used to reduce such abuses and to suggest policy recommendations based on research findings. It is from these objectives that research questions were developed. A cross sectional survey focusing primarily on sampled members of the refugee community at Kakuma, Humanitarian workers, camp leaders and government official indirectly involved in the protection of refugee rights and security was used. The major methods used were; interviews, focus group discussion and document analysis. Three hundred and fourteen respondents were interviewed and twenty eight focus group discussions held. Although provincial administration, development partners and humanitarian agencies are making a difference to ensure refugee rights and security, the study revealed that their efforts are still below the standard and cases of abuse such as trafficking, refoulment, and gender — based violence among many other cases still exist and continue to threaten refugee security at the camp.Most refugee are vulnerable to environmental and natural disaster because many lives in informal and unsafe settlements. Unaccompanied minors are likely to be more vulnerable to abuses and to such problems as malnutrition, discus physical danger, emotional trauma, exploitation and abuse. Based on the finding, conclusions and recommendations have been made. It is the researchers hope that this information will be useful to the relevant Ministries, non- Governmental Organizational, Turkana District Authorities, International community and to the refugee community to promote and to protect the right and security of refugee.