A/HRC/4/WG.3/6 page 22 persons (IDPs),51 internal displacement “breaks up families, cuts social and cultural ties, terminates dependable employment relationships, disrupts educational opportunities, denies access to such vital necessities as food, shelter and medicine, and exposes innocent persons to such acts of violence as attacks on camps, disappearances and rape.”52 IDPs relocated in an unfamiliar environment are particularly vulnerable to racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia that serve to make their situation even worse. 67. The DDPA recognizes with concern instances of various forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance against internally displaced persons.53 None of the human rights instruments includes provisions specifically related to internal displacement. Nevertheless, their general provisions prohibiting discrimination based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin are fully applicable to IDPs as holders of human rights. In its general recommendation No. 22 (1996) on article 5 of the Convention on refugees and displaced persons, CERD addresses the rights of displaced persons to return to their homes of origin under conditions of safety; to have the right to participate fully and equally in public affairs at all levels; and to have equal access to public services and to receive rehabilitation assistance.54 In its general recommendation No. 24 (1999) on article 12 of the Convention (women and health), the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urges States to pay special attention to the health needs and rights of women belonging to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, such as inter alia internally displaced women.55 68. The situation of IDPs is extensively addressed by the Guiding Principles on internal displacement prepared by Mr. Francis Deng.56 The Commission on Human Rights expressed its appreciation of this document and welcomed the fact that an increasing number of States, United Nations agencies and regional and NGO organizations are applying it as a standard.57 The 51 Mr. Francis Deng (Sudan) served as Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons from 1992 to 2004. Mr. Walter Kälin (Switzerland) has been serving as the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons since 2004. 52 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, para. 1. 53 Para. 53 of the Declaration. See also paras. 54 - 55, 111 of the Declaration and paras 34 - 36, 185 of the Programme of Action. 54 Paragraph 2. 55 Paragraph 6. 56 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2. 57 Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/55, para. 6.