From Responsibility to Response: Assessing National - Brookings

CHAPTER 1 Assessing National Approaches to Internal Displacement: Findings from 15 Countries
Figure 1-2. National human rights institutions (NHRIs) in the fifteen countries surveyeda Country and
Status of NHRI*
Name of NHRI Year established Activities on behalf of IDPs
Afghanistani Afghanistan 2004 Through human rights field monitoring, looks at human rights and
Independent
protection needs of the vulnerable, including IDPs; investigates
Human Rights
complaints; monitors and reports on human rights abuses; advises
Commission
the government; and provides training for government staff and
(AIHRC)
civil society.
Central African National Established by law
Republic Human Rights in 1991 but not
Commission yet established in
practice.
Colombiai Ombudsman’s 1991 The IDP focal point within the Ombudsman’s Office has taken an
Office
active role with respect to promotion and protection of IDP rights
for more than a decade. Main activities include monitoring the
rights of IDPs; early warning of displacement; public awareness
campaigns on IDP issues; dissemination and advocacy of the
Guiding Principles; receiving and working to address individual
complaints by IDPs of violations of their rights; monitoring IDP
children’s rights; and advising on the drafting of national legislation
and policies for addressing internal displacement.
Democratic
No evidence
Republic of the
that the draft law
Congo
establishing a
national human
rights commission
has been adopted
by the National
Assembly.
Georgiai Office of Established in 1996; The office has monitored and reported on IDP issues since at
the Public
Defender
recognized since
2007 as the
internationally
accredited national
human rights
institution for
Georgia
least 2004, but with difficulty because of limited capacity (there are
7 staff members, including six staff members hired in 2010 with
funding from the Council of Europe).
Iraq In development Iraq’s 2005
constitution
mandates the
establishment of
an independent
national human
rights commission.
Kenyai Kenyan Established in 2002; Focused on human rights of IDPs before the 2007constitutional
National became operational crisis and has continued to do so since. In 2009 designated a
Commission on in 2003
focal point and staff dedicated to IDP issues; set up regional
Human Rights
offices and a network of field monitors. Activities include
(KNCHR)
monitoring; investigating cases of human rights violations;
advising government institutions; promoting rights awareness; and
conducting visits to IDP camps and return sites
Myanmar No NHRI .
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