2004 Annual Report, NPDS Project.pdf - IDP SriLanka

SPECIAL EVENTSOVERVIEWPromotion of the rights of the IDPs is a tool of prevention. For example promotion ofthe rights of women was felt vital, as there are a growing number of domesticviolence complaints among IDPs in the welfare centers.In the beginning of the year the Project analyzed the complaints that were receivedduring the previous year and it identified certain issues that should be remediedimmediately. Issues pertaining to loss of personal documents and also the voterregistration were considered to be given priority.Additionally a task force was created as the Human Rights Animators by the Project toempower the IDPs to protect and promote their rights and also to create effectivecommunication between the Project and the IDPs.Furthermore special programme were conducted to celebrate the Women’s Day,Children’s Day and the Human Rights Day.4.1. HUMAN RIGHTS ANIMATORS PROGRAMME“ Special efforts should be made to ensure the full participation of internally displacedpersons in the planning and management of their return or resettlement andintegration” ,Principle 28.2, Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementIntroductionAfter the MOU in 2002 although many people started to return to their habitualresidents many were left behind in the Welfare Centers. They could not return to theirresidents as they were either destroyed or due to security reasons.There are many protection mechanisms to look in to the needs of these IDPs. But it isevident that the protection available is not sufficient. Empowerment of the IDPs wasfelt as a must. As for a long time they are being used to a dependent life style andempowerment can be considered as means of reintegrating them in to the society.Selecting a group among the IDPs especially from youth and making them activelyinvolved in the decision-making processes was felt as a need of the day. Further more,most of the youth in the welfare centers are unemployed these activities althoughvoluntary can be considered as fruitful as this is an opportunity to assist their ownpeople to rebuild their lives.Annual Report 2004National Protection and Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons ProjectHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka20