In September 2006 judges from a number of African countries gathered in Pretoria at the Union Buildings and adopted a document of governance aimed at promoting a common understanding of the dynamics of international refugee law. This was the birth of the Africa Chapter of the International Association of Refugee Law Judges. Since then the Africa Chapter has been actively involved in promoting regional and domestic development seminars, sharing jurisprudence and comparative experiences in the implementation of refugee law.

To celebrate the Africa Chapter's l0th anniversary a Commemorative Regional Conference was hosted in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights from the University of Pretoria (UP) and UNHCR from 24 to 28 October 2016 in Pretoria. The conference was officially opened by the Chief Justice of South Africa, Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who emphasised the need to have a strong independent judiciary for maintaining the rule of law. The conference attracted approximately 150 delegates, mainly judges from Africa and the rest of the world and included 60 local Refugee Status Detennination Officers (RSDO's) of the Department of Home Affairs.

The conference provided a unique platform for the exchange of views and sharing of best practices including collaborative strategic planning pertaining to the dynamics of refugee law.

Speakers included:

• Minister of Home Affairs Mr Malusi Gigaba
• Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ms Fatima Chouhan
• Judge President Dunstan Mlambo, Gauteng High Court
• Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba, Gauteng High Court
• Justice Jody Kollapen, Gauteng High Court
• Prof Frans Viljoen, Director of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, and
• Prof Ann Skelton, Director of the Centre for Child Law, University of Pretoria. 

• Louise Aubin, Deputy Director, International Protection, UNHCR, Geneva
• Ronald Rosenberg, Chief of the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office, USA
• Justice Debbie Mortimer, Federal Court, Australia
• Judge Judith Gleeson, Immigration Appeal Tribunal, UK
• Dr Yousef Daradkeh, UNHCR, Saudi Arabia
• Matthias Reuss, UNHCR
• Justice Fred Ochieng, High Court of Kenya
• Justice Katelijne Declerck, President of the IARLJ, Belgium
• Justice Michelle Segonzac, President of the National Court of Asylum, France
• Mohamed Skali Housseini, President of the Appellate Administrative Tribunal, Morocco
• Gary Dukeshire, Senior Counsel, Immigration Refugee Board, Canada
• Judge Chouikha Boussokaya, Administrative Tribunal, Tunisia
• Holly Holtman, Senior Counsel, Immigration Refugee Board, Canada
• Judge Zouheir Ben Tanfous, Administrative Tribunal, Tunisia
• Alia Hindawi, Jordan, and
• Virginia Shaw (New Zealand Refugee Status Appeals Authority).