Human Rights Council 44th Session. Item 3 - (9 July) – Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of internally displaced persons, Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, on her report “Persons with disabilities in the context of internal displacement”.
STATEMENT delivered by First Secretary Sean Lobo
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Thank you for the report and your briefing today on persons with disabilities in the context of internal displacement.
According to the High Commissioner for Refugees, there are now 45, 7 million internally displaced persons, a record high number. The internally displaced are often the most vulnerable and often denied their human rights.
There is a need to strengthen the international efforts to enhance the situations of internal displacement. In this regard, we support the High-level panel on internal displacement launched by the UN Secretary-General last year. The Panel is co-chaired by Federica Mogherini and Donald Kaberuka, and we are looking forward to their concrete recommendations on how to enhance the situation, including protection and assistance to internally displaced persons with disabilities. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur’s report would be useful for the Panel’s work.
It is important to find durable solutions in these situations also for persons with disabilities. Norway support the Special Rapporteur’s statement that there is a need for a shift from awareness of disability, to a proactive human rights –based disability inclusion strategy in order to manage internal displacement and secure dignity for this vulnerable group.
Thank you!