From Responsibility to Response: Assessing National - Brookings

Georgia From Solidarity to Solutions: The Government Response to Internal Displacement in Georgia
collective centers varies and in many cases is informal
in nature and based on the strong networks formed
amongst people living in crowded conditions.” Further:
“Although there are some strong IDP women leaders,
women still tend to take a back seat to men in Georgia.
Few children are involved in decisionmaking.” 143
Consent, a local NGO, has provided training on the participation
of IDPs, both men and women, in the activities
of local self-government bodies. 144 Moreover, with
the support of DRC, a coalition of NGOs, including
the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, the Charity
Humanitarian Center Abkhazeti (CHCA), Consent,
and the Social Programs Foundation, undertook community
mobilization efforts among IDP populations to
encourage IDPs to advocate for themselves with local
and central authorities, including by organizing regional
meetings at which IDP representatives have the
opportunity to meet with and express their concerns to
high-ranking government officials. 145
Structurally, therefore, a number of policy commitments,
processes, mechanisms and awareness-raising
initiatives on the importance of IDP participation are
in place. In practice, however, those efforts have not
yet translated into adequate and meaningful participation
of IDPs. Indeed, according to the Public Defender:
“When addressing State policy, one of the most acute
problems—the lack of communication between IDPs
and the ministry—should be emphasized.” 146 Echoing
this view, UNHCR has pointed out:
Generally IDPs are not sufficiently involved
in decisions affecting their lives. There is not
enough explanation about policies launched
by the government and insufficient encouragement
of IDP participation. IDPs, especially
in rural areas or in the small towns, live in
143 UNHCR, Gap Analysis. p. 24.
144 Agenda of training program, on file with author.
145 E-mail correspondence with IDP association
representative, June 2011.
146 Public Defender of Georgia, Report on the Human Rights
Situation of Internally Displaced Persons and Conflict-
Affected Individuals in Georgia (September 2010), p. 12.
209
completely isolated circumstances without
access to information relating to them.
Consequently, “IDPs have become passive, indifferent,
and apathetic with low inspiration” to participate;
indeed, tellingly, when UNHCR conducted participatory
assessments “[m]ost IDPs welcomed the discussions,
although some refused to participate as they felt
the discussions would not lead to any improvement in
their lives.” 147 Generally, however, human rights observers
point out that adequate information about programs
and policies affecting IDPs’ lives is not provided to
them, nor is there sufficient consultation with IDPs or
opportunities for them to influence in a meaningful way
decisions that concern them. 148
The creation in 2009–10 of a hotline telephone number
as well as a reception center and case management
system within the ministry, at the recommendation
and with the assistance of UNHCR, USAID and DRC
(see Benchmark 7, above), has gone a significant way
to improve access to information for IDPs. The Public
Defender has assessed these developments “positively,”
noting that “[t]hrough these tools, IDPs are able to
obtain necessary information and/or consultation
during 24-hours.” Yet, despite these developments, he
also has pointed out that “it is evident that the lack
of information among IDPs remains a problem. The
complaints addressed to the Public Defender also attest
to this.” Generally, complaints stem from the fact that
when IDPs have addressed the ministry regarding a
particular concern, they tend to wait for months before
they receive a response, if they ever do. 149 In an effort to
address this specific time-lag problem, the action plan
was updated in May 2010 to include a commitment by
147 UNHCR, Gap Analysis, 2009, p. 10.
148 Public Defender of Georgia, Report on the Human
Rights Situation of Internally Displaced Persons and
Conflict-Affected Individuals in Georgia, p. 16; Amnesty
International, In the Waiting Room: Internally Displaced
People in Georgia, pp. 42–43.
149 Public Defender of Georgia, Report on the Human Rights
Situation of Internally Displaced Persons and Conflict-
Affected Individuals in Georgia, p. 12.