New Items from the Brookings-Bern Project and the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (RSG)

December 2007

Though many Sri Lankans are living in protracted displacement situations, some IDPs have begun to return to their homse. On his recent mission to Sri Lanka, the RSG noted that in order to make these returns sustainable, and to adequately protect those still displaced, it is essential to enact measures in line with international human rights standards and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement in the areas of security, livelihoods, and humanitarian access.
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On a recent mission to Sri Lanka, RSG Kälin expressed concern about the displacement situation in the country. In this interview, he tells UN radio that more needs to be done to find a sustainable solution for the large number of internally displaced persons.
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On January 14, the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement will host a discussion to examine ways to place human rights at the center of any future response to a major natural disaster in the US or elsewhere in the world. The discussion will focus on the rights of individuals affected by natural disasters and how those rights can be incorporated into all governmental and public response plans.

Walter Kälin, the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of IDPs, will deliver opening remarks. Chris Kromm, Executive Director of the Institute for Southern Studies, will release his new report which applies the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement to analysis of the response to the Katrina disaster. Linda Poteat, Director of Disaster Response at InterAction, will discuss disaster risk reduction strategies. Brookings Senior Fellow Elizabeth Ferris will moderate the discussion. After the formal presentation, the panel will take audience questions.
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Predictions have been made that millions of people will be displaced in the future because of climate change. However, despite the growing interest in the relationship of climate change to displacement, this article examines some of the difficulties in drawing the connections, arguing that the relationships are more complex than usually presented.
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The humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing violence in Kenya greatly concerns the UN special mandate holders. The violence has caused massive displacement, which is putting large numbers of people at risk and threatens their enjoyment of basic human rights. RSG Walter Kälin joins several other mandate holders in calling for a peaceful and rapid solution to end the violence.
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Bruising debates within the human rights and humanitarian communities have centered on the numbers who have died in Darfur, the use of the term genocide, the efficacy of military versus political solutions and the extent to which human rights advocacy can undermine humanitarian programs on the ground.
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The division of Iraq (usually in some form of ‘soft partition’) has frequently been argued as a way to end the political violence plaguing the country. While these proposals have met with significant criticism, a largely unnoted risk is that these debates over political outcomes in Iraq overshadow the humanitarian plight of individuals and families displaced by the violence in Iraq. This article draws connections with the Bosnian situation with a particular focus on the need to protect property rights of those displaced.
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The dire situation of the internally displaced in Iraq has been creating humanitarian and security problems for some time now. And while the situation has yet to markedly improve, Brookings expert Elizabeth Ferris argues that the real challenge for Iraq’s displaced is the question of durable solutions. Even in the best of cases, the return of refugees and IDPs will be extraordinarily difficult.
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The conflict in Georgia has created a quarter of a million Abkhazi IDPs who have been living in protracted displacement as a result of the ‘frozen’ political situation. In exploring the legal aspects of their return, Kälin encourages the Government of Georgia and the Abkhaz de facto authorities to implement the three-step strategy put forth in Security Council Resolution 1781 (2007).
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Resolving internal displacement is usually inextricably linked with achieving sustainable peace for a number of reasons. The best way of addressing the concerns of IDPs in peace processes is through their direct participation. However, as Brookings expert Khalid Koser argues, this is often difficult to achieve.
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In the 21st century, the humanitarian imperative of saving lives must be reconciled with the most cardinal principle of international affairs, respect for non-interference in internal affairs. The humanitarian imperative calls for immediate aid to people whose survival is threatened, whereas respect for state sovereignty can mean leaving large numbers to die should their governments refuse entry to international humanitarian actors.
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While the international humanitarian community has long been centered on the United Nations, the Global Humanitarian Platform is based on a different premise -- that this community is made up of three equal families: the UN system, NGOs and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. Recognition of this would be both a radical change for the UN system and an affirmation of the reality that NGOs and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement mobilize more resources for humanitarian assistance, have more field staff, and have greater capacity for humanitarian advocacy than the UN.
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