Cecilia Jimenez-Damary:
Let me first thank the Special Rapporteur and the Chair of this Forum
for providing me this opportunity to elaborate on the human rights of
internally displaced persons particularly in relation to displaced
minorities. As mentioned by my predecessor, many of IDPs around the
around actually belong to minorities who have fled from their homes for
a variety of causes. The draft recommendations on minorities in
situations of humanitarian crises, emanating from the Special
Rapporteur on the Rights of Minorities and currently under
consideration, are of interest to me particularly in relation to achieving
durable solutions.
Unfortunately, within humanitarian crises, achieving durable solutions for
minorities is difficult for the reason of discrimination arising from the
very causes of their displacement. It is therefore imperative that in order
for minorities to achieve durable solutions, due attention should be
given to those reasons for their displacement, particularly in relation to
their discrimination because they are minorities. Within my own
experience as a member of a national human rights institution, we found
that an affirmative attention to human rights displaced minorities
provided us with a firm analytical framework helpful in the contexts
during the displacement as well as in the search for durable solutions.
A particular process that may be useful especially in post-conflict
situations are those related to transitional justice and reconciliation, as
appropriate, which may contribute to resolving both causes of
displacement and its consequences,
International soft law standards provided by the IASC Framework on
Durable Solutions for internally displaced persons are grounded on the
more concrete State obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human
rights. Therefore, in relation to displaced minorities, not only is the right
to non-discrimination of minorities a foundational right, but the
Framework provides certain criteria are that are benchmarks for the
attainment of durable solutions.
What are these criteria:
Right to non-discrimination to the following:
Long-term safety, security and freedom of movement;
An adequate standard of living, including at a minimum access to
adequate food, water, housing, health care and basic education;
Access to employment and livelihoods;