Training on the UN guiding principles on internal displacement

This paper summarises the discussions raised at the workshop on the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement in Kabul, organised by the the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The aim of the workshop was to train local actors regarding the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the workshop targeted representatives of state and provincial authorities, international agencies and national NGOs, whose mandate and activities relate to the protection of IDPs in Afghanistan.

Main points of discussion included:

• assistance needs of IDPs in urban centres such as Kabul were vast, including access to health care, education, income generating activities, sanitation facilities, and food
• IDPs living in camps were also seen as a group in need of attention
• due to insecurity, abductions of IDPs have occurred in several camps
• camp residents lack information on their rights
• recommendations to develop the capacity of IDPs to become self reliant, include vocational training
• IDPs need more for more information in relation to returning to their home areas, efforts to provide updated information on the conditions in home areas should be pursued
• property and land issues are a key factor of prevention of forced displacement in Afghanistan. International and national efforts to settle land and property disputes should be given priority, as part of a strategy to minimise the risks of renewed displacement.

[adapted from authors]