A/HRC/41/40/Add.1 almost 250,000 persons have been internally displaced in Central America, 29 per cent in El Salvador. 67. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Colombia organized a Public Hearing at the request of the Regional Network of National Human Rights Institutions on Internal Displacement and Human Rights in the Americas in March 2018. The UN Special Rapporteur participated and promoted the GP20 Plan of Action. In Costa Rica in April, judges of the Constitutional Courts of Colombia, El Salvador and Guatemala and other experts from the Inter-American System of Human Rights and UNHCR discussed important steps taken and remaining challenges regarding responses to internal displacement and protection of the displaced. 68. In March 2018 in Kiev, the European National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) took stock of their current role in IDP protection, and exchanged experiences and strategies on the issue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs. The European Network of NHRIs used the conclusions of the meeting to issue a statement on the role of NHRIs in the promotion and protection of the human rights of IDPs that supports implementation of the GP20 Plan of Action. 69. Forcible Displacement and Gender in South Asia: Why Gender Matters: In late February 2019, a multi-stakeholder summit on gender and forced displacement in Asia brought together key actors in South and South East Asia, including the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs, in Kuala Lumpur to highlight the human rights violations experienced by forcibly displaced women and girls and the policy and practice gaps and requirements to meet their needs and rights. A regional Call for Action developed at the summit will be launched later in 2019. The Special Rapporteur highlighted the role which the GP20 and its Plan of Action can play in these efforts, and her remarks can be viewed online.24 70. Comparative Experiences on Implementing the Kampala Convention in West Africa: Parliamentarians of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and national focal points on internal displacement from West African States exchanged experiences on implementing the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention) in their countries in March in Dakar. Senegal and Cape Verde parliamentarians committed to seek ratification of the Kampala Convention in their countries, the ECOWAS parliament held a follow-up event in May 2019, and there is renewed commitment to include the Kampala Convention in ECOWAS community law. V. Global GP20 Activities 71. Human Rights Council discusses internal displacement: Four IDPs from Nigeria, South Sudan, Mexico and Japan explained what they need in order to resume normal lives and what they can contribute to that effort at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Orpha from Nigeria, Ms. Sonoda from Japan, Gildo from Mexico and Cleto from South Sudan shared their experience and recommendations. “NGOs supporting IDPs are concentrating only within the camps while the IDPs living outside the camps are not considered,” explained Cleto from South Sudan. Orpha also gave an oral statement during the Human Rights Council`s Panel on the Human Rights of IDPs. She explained: “We are often forgotten and left out of decision-making processes because we lack the resources and social connections we used to have. I can guarantee that many of us would have constructive ideas to contribute.” 72. Panel discussion: The Special Rapporteur moderated the first-ever Human Rights Council panel discussion on internal displacement at the 38th session of the HRC. Panelists included Fiji, Honduras, the African Commission on Human and People`s Rights, UNHCR and OHCHR, and Orpha also gave an oral statement. Member States such as Azerbaijan, Colombia and Croatia highlighted the importance of the Guiding Principles and national responsibility for internal displacement, and offered to share their experiences on addressing 24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM0pR-_E_og&feature=youtu.be. 17