Refugees and idps
Addressing internal displacement in peace processes, peace agreements and peace-building
How can IDPs be effectively involved in the peace process?
Authors:
; The Brookings Institution, University of Bern Project on Internal Displacement
Publisher:
Brookings Institution, 2007
This paper explores how the issue of internal displacement can best be integrated into peace processes, peace agreements and peace-building. It specifically looks at:
- how IDPs can most effectively participate in and contribute to peace processes
- seeks to identify good practice for the inclusion of internal displacement issues in the text of formal peace agreements
- attempts to establish the reasons why internal displacement should also be mainstreamed in peace-building efforts.
However as the authors detail, there are currently significant obstacles to IDP participation:
- the exclusive and high-level structure of most ‘track-one’ processes
- they may belong to minority groups and lack resources, education, political skills and influence
- IDPs are often scattered, lack an international regime to support their rights and may be more vulnerable to reprisals from their government when they do mobilise.
To address these and other challenges the research offers a number of recommendations, including:
- national administrations to support ‘track-two’ and ‘track-three’ processes and guarantee no reprisals against any individuals or organizations that participate in these processes
- include legitimate representatives of displaced populations in formal track one peace negotiations, with particular attention to including not only refugee but also IDP representatives, and to ensuring gender balance
- NGOs and civil society to consult with IDPs to develop a list of priority issues for the peace negotiations which are important to and supported by the IDP community
- draft peace agreements to fully incorporate displacement issues, including recognizing the differences between refugees and IDPs; and using language that guarantees the parties’ cooperation in implementing durable solutions for the displaced
- national authorities need to systematically address the issue of finding durable solutions for IDPs and returning refugees when dealing with issues including security, reconstruction, reconciliation, and political transition.
