STATEMENT
UNHCR 93rd meeting of the Standing Committee.
Agenda Item 3 - Regional activities and Global programs. UNHCR’s engagement with internally displaced persons.
Statement by Norway delivered by Ms Therese Johansen,
Senior Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway
Check against delivery
18 June 2025
Chair,
Norway thanks UNHCR for the report on its engagement with IDPs. As internal displacement remains high, we reaffirm our commitment to addressing the drivers and consequences of displacement.
We commend UNHCR for its advocacy role for IDPs, through leadership in the Global Protection Cluster and support to states. We particularly welcome the advocacy for inclusive national statistical systems, and the expanded use of protection analysis to inform planning, coordination and decision-making processes. Securing the voice and inclusion of IDPs and host-communities as part of “whole of society” approach is vital.
We must ensure that IDPs themselves are at the center of our efforts. Their expectations, their resources, and their need for safety and dignity must guide our work.
It is also crucial to underline that most IDPs do not live in camps. Yet much of the international response is still geared toward camp settings, impacting both the perceived responsibilities of national authorities and the timeframe for action. The experiences of IDPs outside camps must be better reflected to ensure inclusive, equitable, and sustainable outcomes.
The principle of “durable solutions from the start” remains critical. We must go beyond short term crisis response. Durable solutions for IDPs entail a broader approach that integrates humanitarian, peacebuilding and long-term development measures.
We commend UNHCR’s commitment to be a Solutions Champion together with IOM and UNDP in the new inter-agency Solutions Hub. We believe this can be a suitable mechanism also for ensuring that the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund continue to be an effective and catalytic tool.
We are now six months into this new set up. It is time to take the pulse on progress made and if necessary, adjust. We must keep up the momentum from the Special Advisor’s engagement. With the changing and challenging funding situation, this is particularly important.
We recommend cooperating with a broader group of stakeholders, including supporting the role of the Resident Coordinators at country-level, to enable transformative action. Norway would like to hear more about how UNHCR is working to embed global and regional initiatives at the national level, particularly through the RCs and UN Country Teams.
Norway remains committed to finding durable solutions for IDPs, as reiterated in our humanitarian strategy.
Thank you.