A/HRC/23/44
in Conflict Situations” (2 May 2012), and transitional justice and displacement (28 June
2012) organized by Brookings-LSE Project in Washington, D.C., and Geneva respectively;
and a round-table discussion on current priorities and challenges relating to internal
displacement (23 March 2012) hosted by USAID in Washington, D.C.
C.
Country engagement
Afghanistan
11.
From 12 to 16 July 2012, at the invitation of the Government of Afghanistan, the
Special Rapporteur held dialogue sessions with Government officials and participated in a
national consultative workshop on the development of a national policy on internal
displacement (15–16 July) in Kabul. The workshop, which was led by the Ministry of
Refugees and Repatriation with the support of CSOs and the United Nations, aimed to
establish a road map for key stages in the development of an IDP policy. He congratulates
the Government of Afghanistan for this important initiative and wishes to express his
commitment to continue to provide his assistance in this regard.
Côte d’Ivoire
12.
From 23 to 31 July 2012, the Special Rapporteur undertook a country visit to Côte
d’Ivoire, at the Government’s invitation. He met with communities affected by internal
displacement in sites of return, resettlement and integration, in both Abidjan and west of
the country. He found that the Government, with support of the international community,
had made significant progress in stabilizing the country after the 2010 post-election
violence, re-establishing law and order and facilitating return or other solutions for the 1
million persons estimated to have been displaced at the height of that crisis. Significant
challenges remain, however. Chief amongst these is ensuring that conditions conducive to
durable solutions are put in place, including housing, services, and security for IDPs so that
they may rebuild their lives. It is also essential that the root causes of violence and
displacement, which have repeatedly shaken the country for over a decade, be addressed.
13.
While IDPs were no longer visible in camps at the time of his visit, the Special
Rapporteur noted the dire living conditions of many IDPs and host communities, in areas of
return and local integration, including lack of housing, basic services, livelihood
opportunities and confidence in the security sector – especially in the country’s western
part and in informal urban settlement in and around Abidjan. He underlines the need to
address the special needs of vulnerable IDPs, such as single female households, the elderly
and disabled, and separated children. In this regard, he commends the Government and the
international community for the recent decision to undertake a data-collection exercise
which will seek to identify the needs of vulnerable IDPs and host communities, and the
decision to pilot the Secretary-General’s decision and framework on durable solutions in
post-conflict situations in Côte d’Ivoire.
14.
Addressing structural and other deep-seated challenges such as those relating to
land, justice and security sector reforms, reconciliation, and other issues likely to affect the
human rights of many, such as the lack of personal identity documents (e.g. birth
registrations, proof of citizenship), will also be essential in order to avoid further future
displacement. Given the role that land has played in inter-community conflicts in the past,
and its connection to identity issues, it is critical that the reform process be inclusive and
transparent, promote local ownership of solutions and take into account the specific
situation of IDPs.
15.
The Special Rapporteur notes that, despite some progress, the security situation in
the country remains fragile due to the slow pace of related reforms. Many IDPs continue to
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