A/HRC/23/44
24.
Other tools and frameworks that address the needs and rights of IDW include:
IASC Guidelines on Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings and the
Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action of 2006; UNHCR Executive Committee
conclusion 105 (LVII) of 2006; UNHCR’s 2008 Handbook for the Protection of Women
and Girls; the United Nations Principles on housing and property restitution for refugees
and displaced persons;10 the Protocol on the Property Rights of Returning Persons in the
Great Lakes Region; general recommendations No. 24 (1999) on women and health and
No. 27 (2010) on the human rights of older women of the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women. The Special Rapporteur is presently supporting the work of
the Committee as it develops a general recommendation on women in conflict and postconflict situations, which he welcomes as it will contribute to the evolving protection
framework.
25.
Various Security Council resolutions address issues of particular relevance to
IDW, including access to protection and assistance; 11 sexual violence;12 trafficking;13 and
peace, reconciliation and development. 14 The Council’s resolutions on women, peace and
security, including its landmark resolution 1325 (2000), are particularly important tools for
strengthening and systematizing responses to the rights and needs of IDW.15 The
development of national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000)
represents a valuable opportunity to include and engage IDW. To date, 35 national
Governments, as well as the European Union, OSCE and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), have approved action plans, while numerous others are in the
drafting phase.16 Several countries facing internal displacement have developed plans,
including Côte d’Ivoire, Georgia, Nepal and the Philippines. Concerted support for the
effective implementation of these action plans is essential to ensure that their potential
benefits for IDW are maximized.
2.
Mainstreaming gender in responses to internal displacement
26.
It is now widely recognized that a “two-pronged approach” is needed, which
balances programmes targeted at displaced women with concerted gender mainstreaming
efforts.17 Yet many organizations continue to struggle to identify and respond to the
multiplicity of concerns facing IDW.18 To improve its protection and assistance efforts,
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/17 (“Pinheiro Principles”); Handbook on Housing and Property Restitution for
Refugees and Displaced Persons: Implementing the ‘Pinheiro Principles’ (FAO et al., 2007). The
Pinheiro Principles underline, inter alia, the right to equality between men and women (including
regarding remedies, inheritance rights, security of tenure, ownership rights and land control rights);
the need for age and gender-sensitive restitution and appeals processes; and the need for international
and national actors to ensure that the particular concerns of potentially vulnerable groups such as
female heads of households, are accommodated.
Security Council resolutions 1674 (2006), 1894 (2009) and 1379 (2001). See also Sanjula
Weerasinghe and Elizabeth Ferris, Security Council, internal displacement and protection:
recommendations for strengthening action through resolutions (Washington, D.C., Brookings-LSE
Project, 2011).
Security Council resolutions 1807 (2008) on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 1556 (2004)
on Sudan.
Security Council resolution 1674 (2006).
Security Council resolutions 1265 (1999) and 1296 (2000).
Security Council resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1889 (2009).
http://peacewomen.org/naps/list-of-naps.
UNHCR, “Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming Forward Plan 2011-2016”, p. 1; Buscher,
“Refugee Women”, p. 18.
See IASC Sub-Working Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action for analyses of gender
mainstreaming efforts.
9
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