STATEMENT
UNHCR Standing Committee: 90th Session, 1-3 July 2024
Agenda item 4 Regional activities and Global programs (b) UNHCR’s engagement with internally displaced persons.
Statement by Norway
Check against delivery
3 July 2024
Chair,
Norway thanks UNHCR for the report on your engagement for IDPs, as we sadly once again are facing a record year for internal displacement, a trend unlikely to be reversed any time soon.
We commend the UNHCR for your advocacy role for IDPs, through leadership in the Global Protection cluster on internal displacement and support to states.
We underline the importance of UNHCRs efforts in ensuring that the IASC system responds to internal displacement in a timely, efficient, and coordinated manner, in line with the recommendations from the independent review. And in doing so, securing the voice and inclusion of IDPs and host-community as part of “whole of society” approach.
Norway appreciates UNHCRs ongoing engagement within the framework of the Secretary General’s Action Agenda. Particularly important is your support and cooperation with Special Advisor Robert Piper, in addressing durable solutions for IDPS, including programs in pilot countries. The principle of “durable solutions from the start” remains critical at a time when conflicts and crises lead to protracted displacements. We must go beyond crisis response and humanitarian action. Durable solutions for IDPs entail a broader approach that integrates humanitarian, peacebuilding, human rights and long term development measures.
Recognizing this, both states and the UN system must re-focus and find ways to significantly shift their approach. UNHCR must continue to convene and align a broader group of stakeholders, including
support the role of the RC at country-level, towards an enabling transformative action. In this, Norway strongly supports the important partnerships between UNHCR and actors such as UNDP, IOM and the World Bank.
Norway remains committed to ensuring that protection of and finding durable solutions for internally displaced, is a high priority, as reiterated in our governments newly launched humanitarian strategy.
Thank you.