From Responsibility to Response: Assessing National - Brookings

CHAPTER 1 Assessing National Approaches to Internal Displacement: Findings from 15 Countries
finding varied among centers and mechanisms often
were informal. In many countries, ensuring that such
mechanisms include and enable the participation of
IDP women has been especially difficult. Illustrating
these challenges, a 2007 report on a fact-finding mission
to Sri Lanka found that
in camp situations the men were better positioned
to negotiate with authorities and were
more likely to be consulted in decisionmaking
or asked to assist with camp matters. There was
no definitive mechanism in place to ensure that
women were also part of decisionmaking processes
in relation to camp administration and
in relation to decisions with regard to the wellbeing
of the displaced. 22
In Georgia, notwithstanding the existence of a very
active national IDP Women’s Association and some
strong women leaders, UNHCR found that “women
still tend to take the back seat to men.” Further, few IDP
children and youth are involved in decisionmaking concerning
IDPs. 23
The formation by internally displaced persons themselves
of IDP associations, groups or NGOs seems to
make a difference in strengthening consultation with
and participation of IDPs. In Colombia and Georgia,
in particular, IDP associations have actively advocated
for IDPs’ rights and have been engaged in developing
and monitoring laws and policies. Governments should
support—or at the very least not obstruct—the establishment
and functioning of such IDP associations. In
22 South Asians for Human Rights, “Report on the Fact-
Finding Mission to the North and East of Sri Lanka to
Assess the State of Displaced Persons,” 8 August 2007
(www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(ht
tpDocuments)/7B3BA7B8C19443E8C12573460046F130/
$file/SAHR+Report.doc).
23 UNHCR, Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in
Georgia: A Gaps Analysis (UNHCR and European Union,
July 2009), p. 24. See also the Georgia case study in chapter
2 of this volume.
120
Afghanistan 24 , the Displaced Persons Council (DPC)
was established in 2003 by the Afghan Ministry
of Refugees and Repatriation, with the support of
UNHCR. Comprising groups of IDPs and refugees originally
from five northern provinces who were displaced
elsewhere in Afghanistan as well as to the Balochistan
region of Pakistan, the DPC was intended specifically
to complement and inform the work of the Northern
Return Commission and increase the participation of
displaced populations in the return process. The DPC
provided recommendations on how best to address
obstacles to return, which were shared with the president
(with whom the DPC met in October 2003 at the
Presidential Palace), relevant government ministries,
the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission,
governors in the places of origin, and the international
community. However, by 2005, after the return of most
DPC members to their places of origin, the DPC had
ceased to function. 25 In some cases but very few (at least
very few of those for which information is available),
IDP associations have participated in UN humanitarian
coordination mechanisms, including “cluster” meetings,
as at times in Kenya and Georgia.
Consultation with IDPs is especially important in the
context of durable solutions. In Kenya 26 , the government’s
inadequate consultation with and involvement of
IDPs ahead of the government’s resettlement program
led to forcible closure of camps and IDPs who protested
against delays in assistance were often violently dispersed
during the initial phase of the program. Communities
to which IDPs were returning or integrating were also
not consulted, which resulted in IDPs being rejected in
these communities.
As the Framework for National Responsibility points
out, peace processes and peace building involve IDPs
24 See further, Afghanistan case study in chapter 2 of this
volume.
25 UNHCR, Report of the Displaced Persons Council Meeting,
19–21 October 2003, 15 November 2003; and IDMC,
Country Profile on Afghanistan.”
26 See further the Kenya case study in chapter 2 of this
volume.