2004 Annual Report, NPDS Project.pdf - IDP SriLanka

the political parties are misusing them. So it is evident that in the forth-coming year these drawbacks should be remedied.“Our most basic link is that we inhibit the same planet,We all breathe the same air and we cherish our children’s future”John F. KennedyChildren can be considered as the most vulnerable group among the IDPs. They havenot only deprived of their homes, their basic needs but also have lost their childhood.They have lost their personal documents and some times are deprived the right toenter in to a school, they have lost their security and self-confidence; they have lostthe right to be brought up in a normal family atmosphere.If the Children are to be the future it was felt that they should be equipped with thenecessary tools to face the future with confidence. They should be given a value.They should not be ‘displaced “by the civil society again. They should not alwaysremain in the shadows of displacement but should be given the opportunity to voicetheir opinions and their views. Their status should not invoke sympathy but the largersociety should recognize them and should give them due consideration.Thus the Project organized the Art Exhibition done by the IDP children to be an “EyeOpener” for the general public and the policy makers and also to establishconfidence in the children in facing their future.Universal Human Rights day was celebrated linking human rights with peace in everyregions and national programme was conducted in Anuradhapura. The day wasconducted with the aim to obtain active participation of the Government Authorities;especially the Police and District and Divisional Secretariats, civil society, including thestakeholders and the duty bearers with a view to create a human rights culture.The project experienced that many of the systemic violations reported were related tothe existing Laws, Policies, and administrative practices. To address this, the Projectinvolved in studying on the issues related to the IDPs and how existing laws, Policiesand Administrative Practices are affecting IDPS. The Project assigned Dr. Mario Gomezand he drafted a report, which analyzed the existing laws, policies and administrativepractices related to the IDPs. During the latter half of the year the Project lobbied thereport for the Government Officials, INGO and NGO representatives where their ideasand opinions were requested regarding the drafted report. With final report theProject intends to pressurize the Government in to implementing therecommendations made by the HRCSL.The Project intended to deal with language rights and issues related to land andproperties of IDPs. Although the preliminary work was concluded due to unforeseencircumstances substantial work was not able to be concluded.Through the programmes carried out the Project was able to build up a good rapportwith the Government officials, INGOs and NGOs especially in the regional level. But ithas been mentioned that even after working in the field still some authorities are notfully aware of the mandate and the activities of the Project. At the same time due tothe sheer unconcern regarding the IDPs by the authorities there were instances thatthe Project was not able to carry out its functions efficiently.Annual Report 2004National Protection and Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons ProjectHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka4