Oggetto: Iraq: helping internally displaced persons improve their lives and
finding durable solutions, key aspects of peace-building
 

Iraq: helping internally displaced persons improve their lives and finding
durable solutions, key aspects of peace-building
(Statement by the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human
Rights of Internally Displaced Persons)

"The complexity of the internal displacement situation in Iraq requires
stronger efforts by the Government and the international community to
protect the human rights of displaced persons, address their immediate needs
and find durable solutions to end their displacement" said the
Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally
Displaced Persons, Walter Kaelin, during his 8-day visit to Iraq. "This can
only be done on the basis of an inclusive and comprehensive strategy that
takes into account all communities affected by displacement, including host
communities and communities in areas of return."
"I am encouraged by the progress to date, and in particular by the
cooperation between the Iraqi authorities and the international community to
address the humanitarian and human rights situation of displaced persons in
Iraq," Mr. Kaelin stated. Significant achievements to date have included the
national policy on displacement of July 2008 and special measures introduced
to facilitate return, reintegration and restitution of property.
In addition, the Representative commended the Government for the important
commitments made in relation to displaced persons during the Human Rights
Council's Universal Periodic Review in February of this year - a process by
which a State's human rights situation is periodically reviewed and
recommendations made.
"I believe that this visit is an opportunity to build upon and carry forward
these recommendations, which were agreed by the Iraqi Government." Mr.
Kaelin stressed that "we stand ready to support the Government's stated
commitments to develop a national action plan to provide assistance and
compensation to internally displaced persons and, in this context, to pay
specific attention to persons with special needs, including displaced
widows, female headed households, and children".
Iraq has suffered many waves of internal displacement throughout its recent
past as a result of conflict, sectarian violence, and forced population
movements associated with policies of the former regime. According to
Government figures, an estimated 1.55 million persons have remained in
displacement since 2006, while a significant number of people were also
displaced prior to 2006.
Some 500,000 Iraqis, a majority of whom are believed to be internally
displaced persons, currently live in informal settlements in Baghdad and
other cities on land or in public buildings which they do not own and face
potential eviction. "I am calling on competent authorities to declare a
moratorium on evictions until the envisaged new strategy on internal
displacement provides a clear plan and viable alternatives for these persons
which are in line with international standards," the Representative said.
Suffering severe over-crowding and inadequate shelters, internally displaced
people in these irregular settlements have limited or no access to water and
other essential services such as sanitation facilities and garbage
collection. This creates serious health hazards, particularly among children
and the elderly. "Measures should be immediately taken to address the dire
living conditions in these settlements, and efforts must be strengthened to
find alternative housing and long term solutions, including allocation of
land plots" stressed Mr. Kaelin.    
"A two-pronged approach is necessary to address the situation of internal
displacement in Iraq", said the Representative.  "Efforts to identify and
implement durable solutions for displaced persons in the country is a
political imperative, a development challenge and a vital part of the
national reconciliation and peace-building process."
  "At the same time, immediate humanitarian needs and human rights must be
addressed for all displacement-affected communities, including equitable
access to basic services, registration as internally displaced persons, and
provision of personal documentation for those who may have lost it," Mr.
Kaelin said. In this regard, he welcomed the Government's willingness to
re-open registration to internally displaced persons, in order to better
assist them with their displacement-specific needs.
"I was pleased to learn that the Government is currently in the process of
developing a strategy on durable solutions to displacement in Iraq. It is
important that such a strategy be comprehensive in its scope and include the
full range of durable solutions, including return, local integration or
settlement in a different location", stressed the Representative.
Such strategy should ensure that all internally displaced persons,
irrespective of when they were displaced, should have equal access to
durable solutions. He added that local integration, in particular, may be
the only feasible solution for those who fear return or do not wish to go
back to their former place of residence for other reasons.
"To take this decision is their right as citizens of Iraq; it is their
constitutional right to choose their place of residence. In this regard, the
Government has informed me of recent plans to assess the potential for local
integration of persons who do not wish to return to their place of origin",
noted Mr. Kaelin. He encouraged a process of consultation with
displacement-affected communities as an essential element to securing a long
lasting solution.
Mr. Kaelin also noted the efforts by the Government to address a broad range
of property restitution needs, as well as measures taken to simplify and
facilitate procedures to establish ownership of land or houses.  This has
enabled the restitution of some 3800 properties to date. "The experience
gained to date can now contribute to the ongoing efforts of the Iraqi
Government to improve fairness and efficiency in property restitution"
underlined the Representative.
The Representative called on the Iraqi Government and the international
community to provide sufficient resources to address the great human rights
and social challenges created by displacement. Finally, Mr. Kaelin
highlighted the importance of specifically including displacement issues
into all relevant development plans and programs. This will contribute to
rebuilding not only the lives of displaced communities but also to the
recovery of Iraq as such, since finding durable solutions for the displaced
is an essential part of successful peace-building.
During his stay in Baghdad, the Representative met with the Prime Minister,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Displacement and Migration,
the Implementation and Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation, the
Minister of Human Rights, and representatives of the international
community. He also visited internally displaced persons living in informal
settlements in the Baghdad area.