A/HRC/10/13 page 10 (in terms of both funding and human capacity) provided for protection activities have often been inadequate, preventing the systematic development of protection programmes that could otherwise effectively prevent human rights violations in this context. 28. The Representative welcomes and supports the efforts of the International Law Commission (ILC), which at its fifty-ninth session in 2007 decided to include the “Protection of persons in the event of disasters” in its programme of work and appointed Eduardo Valencia-Ospina as the Special Rapporteur on the subject. Without prejudice to the future outcome of his work, the efforts of the ILC to progressively develop and restate provisions of international law23 relevant to disaster prevention and relief assistance, as well as to the protection of persons in the event of disasters is most timely. The Representative stands ready to cooperate with the Rapporteur and the ILC in order to ensure the complementarity of their efforts and to build on recent progress in the field of human rights. 29. Through the provision and leadership of a natural disasters focal point for the cluster, the Representative will continue participation in the disaster-related activities of the IASC global Protection Cluster Working Group (PCWG), in order to mainstream human rights protection in the context of natural disaster and to strengthen existing response mechanisms. He will also continue close collaboration with OHCHR in its work on climate change and human rights, as well as other initiatives such as the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. C. Human rights and the relationship between internal displacement and peace processes, peace agreements and peacebuilding 30. Resolving internal displacement is inextricably and unavoidably linked with the achievement of lasting peace. So long as insecurity remains, lost property is not restored or compensated for, or basic conditions for sustainable solutions are not in place, durable solutions simply cannot be achieved. Similarly, displacement situations may become protracted despite the conclusion of a peace agreement, if it is ill-conceived or poorly implemented. Likewise, premature or inadequate return and reintegration programmes may destabilize whatever “peace” has been achieved, and therefore threaten other peacebuilding efforts. 31. Peacebuilding processes are multifaceted. They involve re-establishing law and order; reconstruction and economic rehabilitation; reconciliation; and political transition. The way in which IDPs are included in and benefit from these processes may ultimately affect the success of peacebuilding initiatives. If the situation in their communities of origin is not perceived as safe, IDPs will be reluctant to return. If reconstruction and economic rehabilitation are insufficient for the displaced to resume an appreciable livelihood and to restart a normal life, return even if desired will not be sustainable. The resulting tensions can foster intercommunal violence and place a strain on the peace process. If IDPs cannot exercise their political rights and are prevented from voting, new political realities could be “democratically” legitimized without their 23 See Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), Charter of the United Nations, providing the basis for the mandate of the International Law Commission.

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents