A/HRC/8/6 page 3 Introduction 1. This report is submitted in pursuance of Human Rights Council resolution 6/32, by which the Council, after examining the mandate of the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, decided to extend the mandate of the Representative for a period of three years, in order, inter alia, to address the complex problem of internal displacement and strengthen the international response in that regard, and invited him to submit annual reports. 2. The Representative takes this opportunity to thank the members of the Council and all member States for the trust they have shown in him, and to reiterate his resolve to continue to work tirelessly to promote the rights of internally displaced persons and ensure that they are better respected. 3. In the Representative’s view, the extension of the mandate and the marking of the tenth anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement1 offer an opportunity to draw up an overview of his activities since his appointment in September 2004. This is also an opportunity to face the future and, in response to the challenges which are currently taking shape, outline the actions he plans to take in the near future in pursuance of his mandate. 4. The Representative will also submit a summary of his activities during the period under review, from January 2007, when his last report was submitted, to March 2008. Lastly, the Representative sets out a number of conclusions and recommendations addressed primarily to governments, which bear primary responsibility for providing assistance and protection for displaced persons, and to others working in this field. I. OVERVIEW AND OUTLOOK 5. In 1992, in response to growing international concern over the large number of internally displaced persons throughout the world and their need for assistance and protection, the Commission on Human Rights requested the Secretary-General to appoint a representative on internally displaced persons,2 thus creating a new mechanism whose work had a triple focus: understanding the dynamics of displacement and identifying the needs of those displaced; devising a normative framework to meet the need of displaced persons for protection and assistance; and analysing the institutional response to these needs. 6. The 1998 Guiding Principles undeniably constitute the main achievement under the first phase of the mandate. Based on international humanitarian law, international human rights law and, by analogy, the law governing refugees, the Guiding Principles are designed to guide governments, international organizations and all others concerned in their efforts to protect and assist displaced persons. These principles constitute a major contribution to the development of international rules relating to displaced persons. The Commission on Human Rights and the 1 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annexe. 2 Commission des droits de l’homme, résolution 1992/73.