A/HRC/10/13 page 11 participation, thus increasing feelings of marginalization. Finally, reconciliation can only truly and meaningfully be achieved if restitution of property or compensation for losses is comprehensively addressed. 32. Throughout his various missions, the Representative has observed that four universal elements must be resolved to enable the internally displaced to restart a normal life and to contribute to the reconstruction of a country emerging from conflict: • Return must be voluntary and based upon an informed decision, without coercion of any kind. Internally displaced persons enjoy the freedom of movement and right to choose their place of residence. This means that they are entitled to a meaningful choice of whether they want to return, integrate locally where they were displaced to, or resettle in another part of the country. • The safety of returnees or relocated persons must be ensured. They must be protected from attacks, harassment, intimidation, persecution, or any other form of punitive action upon return to their home community or integration in a new community. They must also be protected from the danger of landmines and unexploded remnants of war. • Property must be returned to the displaced and their houses reconstructed. At a minimum, IDPs should have access to mechanisms for property restitution and compensation, as well as to other transitional justice mechanisms. • An environment must be created that can sustain return or local integration through access, without discrimination, to basic public services, to legal and personal documentation, and to livelihoods or income-generating opportunities. 33. The Representative notes that peace processes are not linear. Activities that address these four critical elements should, as much as possible, take place concurrently. Early recovery activities should commence as soon as the situation has stabilized. These activities should support IDPs in resuming a normal life either at the place of refuge, when they return or when they resettle in another part of the country. If they cannot return to a normal life, they are unlikely ever to achieve a sustainable and durable solution. Furthermore these activities must be tailored to the specific needs of returnees and the communities that receive them. 34. The larger policy issue of the relationship between the prevention and resolution of internal displacement and the process of creating a lasting peace is actively being discussed in various forums. Key insights have been provided through the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission,24 and further developments will be presented next year in the report of the Secretary-General on peacebuilding and early recovery. 24 Peacebuilding Commission, Working Group on Lessons Learned, concept note “Comparative lessons from addressing internal displacement in peacebuilding”, 13 March 2008.