*[Enwl-eng] [cenn] News Release by UN Expert Welcoming NewOpportunities for IDPs in Georgia

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News Release by UN Expert Welcoming New Opportunities for IDPs in Georgia



TBILISI, 17 June 2013 - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human
rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, called today for an
integrated approach to address the situation of all internally displaced
persons including those displaced in the early 1990's and in 2008, and
'eco-migrants' displaced by natural or human-induced disasters, at the end
of his five day follow-up visit to Georgia.

Mr. Beyani expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Georgia for
inviting him for a follow-up visit from 10 to 14 June 2013, and for its
continuing full cooperation with his mandate. Mr. Beyani commended the
ongoing commitment by the Government to improve the living conditions of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were displaced in the 1990's and
providing durable housing to those that were displaced as a result of the
2008 conflict. However, he stressed that there is an urgent need to continue
to improve the living conditions and livelihoods of internally displaced
persons in some of the collective centers, for example those whom he visited
at Kartli.

"New opportunities now exist for taking an inclusive integrated approach for
all waves of IDPs, in the country in accordance with international standards
contained in the 1998 Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. These
include: the proposed revised legislation on IDPs; the realignment of the
2007 strategy on IDPs with the proposed law; the onset of a new registration
exercise for all IDPs that should as well profile their vulnerability and
needs, and inclusive policies being formulated by the Government in the
fields of health, land, agriculture, education, and employment generating
activities. I am assured by the commitment of the Government to ensuring
that these new policies will target IDPs in improving livelihoods and
combating vulnerability in the country, including that of IDPs with
disabilities."

The Special Rapporteur encouraged the Government to share information
relating to these initiatives and other measures with IDPs, international
partners, and civil society, and to consult with IDPs and enable their
participation in decisions affecting them. "This is of utmost importance in
establishing conditions and means for achieving durable solutions for IDPs
in safety and dignity, based on their informed and voluntary choice of
durable solutions," he stressed.

"In addition, the full and effective enjoyment of the human rights of
internally displaced women, in particular to land and property, is urgent,"
Mr. Beyani said. "I therefore encourage the Government to address equal
housing, land and property rights for internally displaced women in
accordance with international standards," he added.

Recalling the last visit of his predecessor, Mr. Walter Kaelin, Mr. Beyani
considered that the search for durable solutions is still hampered by
political deadlock. "I call upon all parties concerned to urgently reach a
political solution to enable those internally displaced persons who wish to
return to their areas of origin to do so voluntarily in safety and dignity,"
the Special Rapporteur said.

"I regret that the placement of a fence along the administrative boundary
line of the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia has the effect of depriving
internally displaced persons and displacement affected communities of
freedom of movement and livelihoods," he stressed. In this connection, Mr.
Beyani welcomed the recent decision of the Constitutional Court which
declared that internally displaced persons from adjacent villages are
entitled to the same rights as those from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali
region/South Ossetia. He, however, also regretted that he was unable to
visit Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia.

The Special Rapporteur also expressed the hope that the donor community will
continue engaging in providing funding and support for projects aimed at
building livelihood opportunities and human rights based resilience for
internally displaced persons. He called for joint efforts between
humanitarian and development actors to that end and in the search for
durable solutions.

"I am grateful to all my interlocutors, including the UN country team,
representatives of civil society, and internally displaced persons for their
willingness to share their experiences with me," he said. During his visit,
Mr. Beyani visited collective centers and settlements for internally
displaced persons in the region of Western Georgia, including Shida Kartli
and Poti, and held meetings with IDPs.

He met with the President of Georgia, the Chairman of the Parliament, the
Chairman of the Supreme Court, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister
of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation
and Refugees, the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, the
Minister of Health, Labour and Social Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture,
the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the State Minister
of Georgia for Reintegration, the Chairperson of the Human Rights and Civil
Integration Committee of Parliament, the Chairman of the Legal Affairs
Committee of the Parliament, the Public Defender and civil society. In
cooperation with the Norwegian Refugee Council, he addressed a seminar on
protracted displacement.

The Special Rapporteur will present his conclusions and recommendations to
the Human Rights Council at its 26th session in June 2014.



Georgian unofficial translation is available in the attached file.



T +995 32 275 19 03/04
F +995 32 275 19 05

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Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 5:27 PM
Subject: [cenn] News Release by UN Expert Welcoming New Opportunities for
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