A/HRC/35/27
2014, but urged the Government to review its approach to internally displaced persons,
including those displaced in the early 1990s and in 2008, and to continue its transition from
a status-based to a needs-based approach. He emphasized the need to develop a plan for the
closure of the remaining “collapsing collective centres” and to increase the Government’s
efforts to integrate the needs of internally displaced persons into displacement-sensitive
national, regional and local development plans and initiatives.
21.
The Special Rapporteur encouraged the donor community to continue to fund and
support durable solutions, and urged all parties to reach a political solution to enable
internally displaced persons who wished to return to their areas of origin to do so
voluntarily and in safety and dignity. He regretted that the razor-wire fence along the
administrative boundary line of the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia, continued to
deprive internally displaced persons and displacement-affected communities of freedom of
movement and created obstacles to their access to land, property and livelihoods. In relation
to Abkhazia, Georgia, he regretted that he had been denied access by the authorities in
control there. He particularly warned against the closure of crossing points along the
dividing line and stressed the need to guarantee access to documentation to all returnees in
order for them to enjoy their rights, including freedom of movement.
Afghanistan
22.
The former Special Rapporteur conducted an official visit to Afghanistan from 11 to
20 October 2016. The internal displacement trends are negative and worsening. In 2016,
more than 600,000 people fled conflict to seek safety inside Afghanistan. On average, 1,500
people were forced from their homes every day. An influx of refugees and undocumented
Afghans, pushed back from Pakistan, has increased the burden on a government lacking the
resources and capacity to respond effectively. With displacement and returns predicted to
rise in 2017, further escalation of the conflict and displacement would overwhelm the
capacity of the Government and its partners to respond. While the political will to protect
internally displaced persons is emerging, government responses do not yet meet the needs
of internally displaced persons.
23.
The National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons is a commendable policy tool,
yet the implementation of it has been poor. Responses to short-term displacement are barely
adequate, while those in protracted displacement are commonly left to fend for themselves.
While resource shortfalls are blamed by the Government for lack of progress, a deficit of
good governance and accountability are contributing factors. In Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif,
projects are securing land and providing homes, services and livelihoods, and are
demonstrating that progress towards durable solutions is possible. However, they are the
exception, and should be replicated throughout the country (see A/HRC/35/27/Add.3).
III. Preliminary activities and a road map for the next three
years
A.
Working methods
24.
The Special Rapporteur considers that internally displaced persons are frequently the
least, the last and the lost in terms of national and international attention to their plight. It is
a core priority of the mandate holder to promote visibility and effective protection for all
internally displaced persons, including those who have become invisible or neglected, the
most vulnerable, and those facing the greatest challenges resulting from their displacement.
She will therefore take an impact-oriented and human rights-based approach to her work,
focusing on building and strengthening constructive partnerships and collaborations with
the objective of delivering effective assistance and protection on the ground. Her working
methods will build on those established by her predecessors, while also emphasizing the
identification of opportunities and entry points to engage directly and constructively with
States and other stakeholders in emerging, ongoing and protracted internal displacement
situations.
7
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents