A/HRC/16/43 53. A central component of this mandate consists in following situations which have or can potentially trigger internal displacement and humanitarian crises. The Special Rapporteur is committed to engage with States and communities affected by such situations at every stage, including in the prevention of forced displacement, during the displacement phase itself, and in the search for durable solutions. In this context, and in line with resolution 14/6, he stands ready to cooperate with Governments, affected communities, relevant United Nations agencies and other relevant stakeholders, to address the human rights protection, assistance and development needs of internally displaced persons, including through country visits and continued engagement with regard to the implementation of the recommendations resulting from such visits. 54. In addition to the above, the Special Rapporteur has identified a number of priority areas and themes for the initial part of his mandate. These include a regional focus on the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons, natural disasters and climate change, women and internal displacement, and internally displaced persons outside camp settings. B. Priority areas and themes 1. African Union Convention on Internal Displacement 55. As the first, and thus far only, legally binding regional instrument on internal displacement, the adoption of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (Kampala Convention) in October 2009 is a major achievement. It represents the will and determination of African States to address the problem of internal displacement in Africa, which is home to 12 million internally displaced persons, and over 40 per cent of all IDPs worldwide who have been displaced due to conflict or violence.5 56. In addition to the legal significance of the adoption of this instrument, the Convention is all the more significant for the comprehensive manner in which it addresses internal displacement. It provides guarantees against forced displacement, standards for the protection of persons during the displacement phase, as well as with regard to durable solutions. It also covers a broad range of possible causes of displacement, including conflict, human rights violations, natural or man-made disasters and development projects. 57. Since its endorsement, a total of 29 of the 53 African Union Member States have signed the Convention and three States, namely Uganda, Sierra Leone and Chad, have ratified it. However, in order to enter into force and become legally binding, the Convention must be ratified by a minimum of 15 countries. The Special Rapporteur strongly urges all African States to ratify the Convention, even if they are not presently affected by displacement. The Convention will ensure that these countries too are prepared and can provide protection to their populations from forced displacement, as well in the event of a natural disaster. Moreover, it is now vital that African Member States follow through and conclude the process which began with the adoption of the Convention, by speedily signing and ratifying the Convention so that it may actually come into force. 58. The next steps, to which the IDP mandate will wish to contribute, are therefore to actively promote the ratification by States of the Convention and to continue to assist in putting in place policy and legislative frameworks which will ensure its implementation at the national level. The Special Rapporteur is encouraged by the fact that a number of African States have already developed or are in the course of developing national laws and 5 IDMC: http://www.internal-displacement.org/kampala-convention. 13