A/HRC/4/38 page 4 freedom of movement as well as their access to social and educational services. The Representative welcomes the fact that governmental authorities take this issue seriously but notes, nevertheless, that this crisis is due mainly to the lack of adequate response to the needs of IDPs by the Government and the international community, and also to the lack of knowledge of the human rights of IDPs both on the part of the authorities and the displaced themselves. 6. The Representative is of the view that the Government should urgently address the difficulties faced by IDPs in Côte d’Ivoire and recommends therefore that it draft immediately, in cooperation with the international community, a comprehensive strategy and a detailed plan of action to respond to the challenges of internal displacement in the country. He also recommends that the Government establish a coordination mechanism which would also serve as a focal point for the international community on these issues. In addition, the identification of the displaced persons and their needs should be done without delay in order to adopt adequate policies. In the context of the electoral process, the Representative recommends that the necessary steps be taken to ensure the full participation of IDPs without discrimination. Measures should also be taken to facilitate the return in security and dignity of those who wish to do so. The Representative recommends to the Forces Nouvelles that they create an environment allowing for the return of IDPs in the zones under their control, in particular regarding the restitution of property of displaced persons. Finally, the Representative recommends that the international community assist the Government in formulating and implementing a policy and plan of action to respond to the needs of the displaced population and to enhance coordination among humanitarian actors. Colombia 7. The Representative undertook a mission to Colombia from 15 to 27 June 2006 pursuant to the invitation of the Colombian Government. The mission followed up on two previous missions by his predecessor, Francis Deng, in 1994 and 1999. Its objectives were to assess the situation of internal displacement in the country; to advise the authorities on fulfilling their responsibility to protect and assist displaced persons; and to make proposals to the United Nations agencies and to all other relevant actors on how best to address the protection needs of the displaced population. The Representative’s conclusions and recommendations on the situation in Colombia are contained in addendum 3 to the present report (A/HRC/4/38/Add.3). 8. The Representative concluded that Colombia has developed far-reaching legislation and policies on IDPs and commended the efforts made in responding to the humanitarian needs of the IDPs. In his view, this legislation combined with the tradition of checks and balances, in particular by the Constitutional Court, constitute a very good basis for promoting the rights of IDPs. However, he noticed a significant gap between the law and its actual implementation, resulting in a widespread neglect of the specific protection needs of the displaced. Moreover, the scale of displacement demonstrates that the current legal mechanisms are not sufficient to adequately address the problem of IDPs. He noted in particular that the registration system suffers shortcomings, that a more differentiated approach to assist Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities is needed and that efforts should be made to respond to risk assessments made by representatives of the Ombudsman at the local level. The Representative therefore concluded that the lack of consistent and coherent implementation of the laws and policies affects the capacities of the internally displaced to effectively exercise their rights.