DRAFT STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 59th Session.
Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on
the human rights of internally displaced persons focusing on “Internal displacement in the context of organized criminal activity”.
Statement delivered by Ambassador Tormod Cappelen Endresen on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic Countries (NB8): Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.
Check against delivery
23 June 2025
The Nordic-Baltic countries thank the Special Rapporteur for her report on internal displacement in the context of organized criminalized activity.
The report points out that organized criminal activity is an increasingly relevant driver of internal displacement which presents unique threats to a broad range of human rights for internally displaced persons. We thank the Special Rapporteur for outlining concrete recommendations.
As with other drivers of displacement, generalised violence exacerbates existing inequalities for those already facing discrimination. Internally displaced persons face severe human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence. Women and the most vulnerable—children, persons with disabilities, and minority groups—bear the heaviest burden. As the report points out, women and girls face distinct vulnerabilities during internal displacement caused by organized violence. We must ringfence women’s rights and gender equality.
Special Rapporteur,
We would be interested in learning more about the effectiveness of the existing frameworks in protecting the human rights of IDPs. On the normative side, do we have the frameworks we need or are the current challenges related to lack of implementation?
The Nordic-Baltic countries strongly support the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and stand ready to assist her in its implementation.
Thank you.