2004 Annual Report, NPDS Project.pdf - IDP SriLanka

2.2. NATIONAL PROTECTION AND DURABLE SOLUTION FOR INTERNALLY DISPALCEDPERSONS PROJECTYear 2002The Project for the IDPs was established in June 2002 and it was operated in thedistricts of Trincomalee, Jaffna and Vauniya. It was the aftermath of the MOU and thebasic hurdle that was faced by the IDPs was that of the violation of their civil andpolitical rights. So the Project at its inception conducted preventive programmes andawareness programmes targeting the IDPs and Government Officials.Year 2003The Project expanded its services to the districts of Puttlam, Mannar and Batticaloadistricts. In the year 2003, the Project received 5,587 complaints from the six regions,vast number of the complaints were regarding Human Rights violations,. It receivednumber of complaints regarding loss of personal documents and also resettlementand humanitarian assistant related complaints.With the view to protect and promote the rights of the IDPs the Project conducted anumber of awareness programmes especially targeting the Government Officials as itwas identified by the Project that violations occur due to the lack of understandingand lack of respect and regard of the stake holders towards the Human Rightsespecially of the IDPs.Year 2004The Project was renamed the “National Protection and Durable Solution for InternallyDisplaced Persons Project” and it expanded its mandate after analyzing thecomplaints that were received during the previous year. In its new arrangement theProject is not only focused in to protect and promote the rights of the IDPs andReturnees it also supports the existing Government mechanisms that are engaged inprotection of the rights of the IDPs. It also focuses in to the empowering andeducating the IDPs to protect and promote their rights.“Ensure life with dignity, rights and liberty and equality of IDPs / Returnees byprotecting them from all kinds of abuses and violations of their rights” was the vision ofthe Project.Strengthen the Project with a clear vision and an effectiveness, efficiency andaccountability, empowering the IDPs / Returnees to exercise and protect their rightand standing for their rights while building peace and harmony, establish an effectiveHuman Rights protection mechanism with the Project and support existingGovernment and non Government mechanisms, emphasize proactive andprevention mechanism and raising understanding of Human Rights and Human dignityand strengthen networks of National and International institutes are the strategies forthe year 2004.Annual Report 2004National Protection and Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons ProjectHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka12