HRC 35, A.I. Item 3: Intervention of the United States of America Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur Cecilia Jimenez-Damary on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons and Special Rapporteur Philip Alston on Extreme Poverty
U.S. Statement as delivered by Flacelia Celsula
Human Rights Council 35th Session
Geneva,
June 8, 2017
Thank you, Mr. President. The United States thanks the Special Rapporteurs for their reports. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Alston to the United States for a country visit in December.
The United States continues to stress the importance of addressing the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide. We fully support the core priority Ms. Jimenez-Damary outlined in her recent report “to promote visibility and effective protection for all internally displaced persons, including those who have become invisible or neglected, the most vulnerable, and those facing the greatest challenges resulting from their displacement.”
Through humanitarian assistance and diplomacy, the United States encourages nations to: 1) develop national laws, policies, and strategies in line with the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement; 2) strengthen policy and legal frameworks to protect and foster the inclusion of IDPs; and 3) support inclusive development strategies that improve the well-being of both IDPs and host communities.
Assistance from humanitarian and development actors to IDPs should reinforce – not replace – a national government’s responsibility and capacity to support IDPs. Not all national governments may have the capacity to meet IDP needs without external assistance; therefore, external assistance providers should design support for IDPs in ways that work through and strengthen national response systems wherever possible.
Ms. Jimenez-Damary, the United States values its partnership with you. As you plan your missions in the coming year, we would welcome the opportunity to connect you with our staff at our embassies around the world.
Question: In your report, you note that “durable solutions must remain high on the agenda if all stakeholders are to address internal displacement in a comprehensive way.” Could you briefly outline some immediate steps that governments should take to promote durable solutions for IDPs?
(end statement)