Objectives

These are;

• To establish CRS as a centre of excellence in the study of forced migration in the Great Lakes Region; and
• To create an environment in which those who come Into contact with victims of forced migration appreciate the root causes and consequences and, instead of being indifferent, develop positive attitudes and initiatives that facilitate the search for permanent mechanisms and models of conflict resolution and peace.

• To offer courses, at both under and post-graduate levels, in various aspects of forced migration as a means of building a local capacity that can influence, formulate and implement policies that protect and assist victims of displacement in line with local, national and international obligations and standards.
• To organize public lectures, seminars, workshops and training programmes with the aim of stimulating awareness and building positive attitudes towards refugees and internally displaced persons.
• To promote serious multi- and interdisciplinary research to facilitate better understanding of the root causes and consequences of forced migration with a view to contributing to social theory and refined definitions of the phenomenon.
• To network effectively with agencies, non-governmental organizations and government to improve better management of refugee protection.
• To develop strategies and modalities for integrating refugees in their new environs and to empower them to participate fully in the economic development of their host countries.
• To examine existing refugee programmes with a view to determining whether or not relief programmes could be replaced with development oriented programmes for refugees (Hopkins, et.al. 1990); and
• To collaborate with other active forced migration studies centres, programmes and researchers to strengthen forced migration studies as a consistent and respected area of intellectual inquiry.