The rule of law in forced displacement
Immigrating and emigrating can be exciting. I have done it myself countless times. But even if the move is desired and well planned, it’s always a hassle. If you have ever moved between countries or cities, you know what I mean. From packing essentials to finding good education for the kids, moving, however joyful, is stressful.
Having to leave your home suddenly, with no plan, time or money, is horrific. For millions of people today, moving is a personal tragedy. They run from threats, destruction, persecution, economic disaster and risks from climate change. Pushed by human rights violations, hunger, the destruction of hospitals and schools people move to save themselves and their loved ones.
At the end of 2023, 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced. Compared to a decade ago, the total number of refugees has more than tripled, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Millions have fled Afghanistan, Myanmar, State of Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela. The list goes on.
When on the move, in transit or in a new place, people need protection and access to their rights. A system is needed to provide essential services, including registration, legal aid, documentation and functional avenues to access justice and seek redress for human rights violations.
One year ago, UNDP became the first multilateral organization to join the Legal Community Pledge announced at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. The purpose of the pledge is to unite stakeholders working with forcibly displaced persons to advance their access to rights and justice and to bring lasting solutions, focusing on legal awareness and service delivery.
This pledge is a recommitment to continue and amplify our efforts to integrate Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approaches in the rule of law, including through UNDP’s long-standing partnership with UNHCR and many other UN partners. A joint UNDP-UNHCR Roadmap was developed in the spirit of the corporate-level Global Cooperation Framework between the two agencies.
Our commitment is developed through the incredible network of UNDP country offices. UNDP supports national actors in delivering justice and security services to protect human rights of displaced and host communities.
In Lebanon, the legal helpdesks went mobile to reach marginalized groups. Over 6,500 people, more than half of them women, benefitted from legal information, legal aid and assistance, including refugees, migrant workers and displaced populations. In Mozambique, training and support was provided to government stakeholders and civil society to address the justice needs of the internally displaced persons and returnees in ten districts of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula. The mobile teams in Moldova assisted Ukrainian refugees and survivors of violence directly in their communities in this host country. Almost 700 women and girls received legal, social and psychological services.
One year on, forced migration is top of mind among people around the world. Many are gravely concerned about the scale of the challenge. As UNDP, we are sharpening our focus on the rule of law, human rights and access to justice in situations of forced displacement and migration. We aim to increase and improve our support to refugees and internally displaced persons and ensure the conditions are in place for them to return, rebuild and recover their rights. Watch this space.
