A/HRC/41/40/Add.1 I. Introduction 1. This multi-stakeholder initiative commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (henceforth GP20) and development of a GP20 Plan of Action for Advancing Prevention, Protection and Solutions for Internally Displaced People (2018-2020) was driven by the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, UNHCR and OCHA. The Special Rapporteur held an IDP stakeholder meeting in Geneva in September 2017 where there was broad support for commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles and agreement on four priority issues for collaborative work for reducing and resolving internal displacement. 2. The process for drafting the Plan of Action began in December 2017. Over fifty stakeholders were consulted, including various UN entities, international NGOs, NGO consortia, academia, Member States, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other internal displacement experts. The Plan of Action was launched in Geneva at an event convened by the Special Rapporteur on 17 April 2018, which marked the 20th anniversary of the date when the UN Commission on Human Rights noted the Guiding Principles in 1998. A GP20 Steering Group was set up as a forum for exchange of practice between member states, UN agencies, World Bank, NGOs and Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. 3. This Plan of Action also aspires to lay the groundwork for and contribute to a possible high-level initiatives to support States coping with internal displacement and other stakeholders in looking at the regional and global significance of internal displacement and the measures that have been and can be taken to prevent, respond to and find solutions to this phenomenon. Among others, these would be to help identify key commitments for achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development’s pledge to “leave no-one behind,” the Secretary-General’s prevention agenda and reform of the UN development system that can support IDPs through prevention, protection and solutions to displacement. II. GP20 Plan of Action for Advancing Prevention, Protection and Solutions for Internally Displaced People 2018-2020 4. This Plan of Action 4 was launched during the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement to galvanize and reinforce multi-stakeholder engagement towards reducing and resolving internal displacement through prevention, protection and solutions for internally displaced people (IDPs). Action to achieve this goal have been carried out primarily at the national, but also at the regional and global levels. 5. This Plan of Action centres around four priority issues: participation of IDPs; national laws and policies addressing internal displacement; data and analysis on internal displacement; and addressing protracted displacement and facilitating durable solutions. Collaborative activities on these issues aim to create changes that will contribute to reaching the Plan of Action’s goal and laying the groundwork for possible high-level initiatives on internal displacement. 6. National and local authorities, IDPs, host communities, UN entities, NGOs, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, academia, development finance institutions, human rights bodies and the private sector are called to rally around the goal and objectives of this Plan of Action and take individual or collective action in support of it. Stakeholders may wish to implement the activities suggested herein, or pursue bolder initiatives, especially in situations where IDPs face significant protection risks and humanitarian access is limited. 7. Stakeholders have been requested to share their planned and anticipated activities and initiatives with the GP20 Coordinator in order to map and track this effort. A Steering Group oversees implementation and monitors progress of this three-year Plan of Action, while also promoting stakeholder engagement and cooperation at national, regional and global level towards the goal of reducing and resolving internal displacement through prevention, 4 4 http://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/_assets/files/20180523-gp20-plan-of-action-final.pdf.