Internal Displacement

Internal displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with millions of individuals forced to relocate due to conflicts and disasters. In resolution 78/205, the General Assembly highlighted the challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs), including inadequate protection and assistance, and emphasized the need to address root causes and provide humanitarian assistance and durable solutions. Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Internal Displacement and the follow-up Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, the General Assembly encouraged the Secretary-General to work with Member States, the UN system and other relevant actors in efforts to address internal displacement, including through regular and enhanced follow-up and collaboration.

At its 46th session, HLCP agreed to pursue a process to promote UN system-wide coherence on internal displacement under the overarching vision of the Secretary-General's Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. The Committee saw merit in the UN system aligning behind a comprehensive, systematic, solutions-oriented approach that would meet the needs of affected communities. To take the work forward, HLCP established a working group to develop a UN System-wide Approach to Internal Displacement under the leadership of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement. 

The Committee provided guidance to the working group at its 47th session on the process to develop a draft System-wide Approach and provided feedback on the preliminary framing of the internal displacement problem. Members also offered thoughts on how the Approach could help to overcome some of the persistent challenges hampering efforts to effectively respond to and resolve internal displacement. The importance of strengthening prevention and bridging normative and operational work was also highlighted. 

At its 48th session in October 2024, the Committee supported the draft United Nations System-wide Approach to Internal Displacement in its entirety and welcomed the design for the reconfigured global arrangements. It encouraged the actors and mechanisms responsible for the constituent parts of the System-wide Approach to review the recommendations addressed to them and consider if and how to take them forward within their respective mandates and in the context of the overall System-wide Approach.