A/HRC/10/13 page 23 III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 88. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the Representative welcomes the progress made in the past 10 years towards greater recognition of the phenomenon of displacement caused by armed conflicts, situations of generalized violence, natural or human-made disasters and similar causes, and of the primary responsibility of national Governments to respond to such situations. 89. The Representative re-emphasizes that the Guiding Principles reflect international law and restate State obligations and responsibilities emerging from international humanitarian law and human rights law. He acknowledges the international recognition of the Guiding Principles as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons and commends the efforts of States to promote the Guiding Principles and implement them through incorporation into their domestic laws and policies. He highlights the progress made on the African continent in shaping binding international treaties on internal displacement particularly the Protocol on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons to the Declaration on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great Lakes Region (the Great Lakes Protocol on internal displacement) and the draft African Union convention for the protection and assistance to internally displaced persons in Africa, which is expected to be adopted in 2009. 90. At the same time, the Representative regrets that over the past 10 years, the number of internally displaced persons - today estimated at 1 per cent of the world’s population has not declined. Rather, it continues to increase, primarily as a result of the growth in disaster-induced displacement related to climate change, but also because of protracted displacement in the context of unresolved armed conflicts. 91. It is estimated that more than 26 million people are currently internally displaced as a result of armed conflict or other violence in more than 50 countries, with the Sudan, Colombia, and Iraq having the highest numbers. Over the past year, some countries, such as Uganda, have made progress in facilitating the return and reintegration of IDPs. At the same time, massive new displacement as a result of armed conflict or generalized violence has occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Kenya, Somalia, Sri Lanka, the Sudan, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, millions remain trapped in protracted displacement situations in countries and regions including Azerbaijan, the Balkans, Colombia, Georgia, Turkey, and Somalia, because the conflicts that gave rise to their displacement remain unresolved. 92. Many countries experience displacement caused by natural disasters. In light of the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it is expected that the frequency and magnitude of natural disasters will increase, resulting in more displacement. 93. The Representative continues to be concerned about: (a) Ongoing displacements in many countries, often as a result of violence committed by State and non-State actors in violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;