A/HRC/41/40/Add.1
plan to implement the IDP National Strategy, and showcased national and international
humanitarian-development projects to address protracted internal displacement. National
authorities, civil society organizations, international agencies and the Ombudsperson's Office
also gathered to discuss study results showing how IDPs struggle to access their rights and
services, and possible solutions to these issues with UNDP support. Civil society work on
improving IDPs' access to their electoral rights also continued with UNDP support, and a
UN mission in February supported the government to design measures to reach the
sustainable development goals (SDGs), including to ensure that IDPs are not left behind.
63.
The Ukrainian Institute of Human Rights organized the forum Together Towards the
Result in October 2018 with IDPs, other conflict-affected individuals, host communities and
decision makers from various regions of Ukraine. The objective was to facilitate a dialogue
between IDPs and decision makers in a joint search for legislative solutions to displacementrelated challenges. Suggested steps included joint advocacy on relevant legal initiatives in
Parliament during the current session, and IDPs insisted on the need to have full access to
their voting rights and the importance of resolving their housing, land and property issues.
Participants also voiced the need to unite their efforts and speak as one. To follow up on this
recommendation, the Ukrainian Institute of Human Rights called on citizens to unite through
an open platform “Protection of IDP Rights”. To date, more than 50 NGOs and IDPs joined
this Platform and a draft Memorandum on Cooperation of NGOs and IDPs is available
online.23
64.
Addressing protracted displacement with IDPs using a multi-stakeholder
approach: On 7 December 2018, parliamentarians, international organizations and NGOs
organized a joint event at the Parliament of Ukraine to raise awareness on implementation of
Ukraine's Human Rights Strategy. UNHCR presented Ukraine’s obligations under
international law and the existing legal framework, distributed the UN Guiding Principles on
Internal Displacement, and arranged a photo exhibition "Internal Displacement in
Ukraine" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles. The photos
exposed the lives of people who live along the line of contact in eastern Ukraine and are
compelled to deal with the difficulties associated with violations of the right to physical safety,
freedom of movement, access to basic social services, benefits and pensions. UNHCR also
presented a “virtual reality” video on the same topic to transport viewers to the surroundings
of people living in towns along the contact line. Several hundred people attended and
awareness was raised on the urgent need to strengthen the protection of conflict-affected
persons, including IDPs, and to identify durable housing solutions for them.
65.
Improving access of IDPs to their voting rights: In February, the Protection Cluster
with partners produced a briefing note on the access of IDPs to their voting rights. At the end
of February, the Council of Europe event on the voting rights of IDPs concluded with Council
of Europe officials calling on the Verkhovna Rada to accelerate the adoption of draft law No.
6240 to facilitate access of IDPs to their voting rights as Ukraine embarks on a full election
cycle over the course of the year.
IV. Regional initiatives on internal displacement
66.
International forum on internal displacement in Latin America: In November
2018, the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles was commemorated in El Salvador with
an international forum to discuss the incorporation of the Guiding Principles into national
legislation of countries in Latin America. Distinguished public officials from Colombia, El
Salvador and Honduras shared country experiences in protecting and responding to IDPs, as
well as on prevention and solutions. This forum aimed to generate a dialogue on the
importance of taking more powerful actions to protect IDPs and promote their rights. For its
part, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security of El Salvador published in 2018 a report
entitled "Profiling of internal mobility due to violence in El Salvador", which estimates that
23
16
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YwYzVCpwVb0_nPssNidf8WPe7ozzH24PugZIYLpO7
WI/edit.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents