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Stressing the importance of sustained dialogue on emerging trends in
the realm of prevention, protection and reintegration of refugees
and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the need for identifying
sustainable solutions, the group of South Asian experts gathered in
the Conference titled “Protection Strategies for People in
Situations of Forced Migration” (thereafter the Conference) proposes
to transform itself into a Working Group on Challenges of
Displacement in South Asia (thereafter the Working Group). The
Working Group, with the assistance of a Secretariat to be
established at the Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group, will
(a) serve as an open forum for discussion and debate across
countries and regions, (b) convene in regular intervals and (c) help
translate research findings of displacement in South Asia into
region-specific laws and policies. Such an initiative would aim at
establishing a broad-based dialogue on the existing and emerging
protection needs of people affected by displacement, including as a
result of conflict, development and environmental degradation, with
a view to informing policy-making.
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Being aware of the historical and geographical limitations of the
term ‘refugee’ as framed in the Refugee Convention (1951) and
stressing the need of capturing new social phenomena in the realm of
protecting vulnerable populations, in particular with respect to
climate change, the Conference invites a dialogue, inspired by South
Asian experiences, among State governments, international
organisations and civil society that looks beyond the refugee
definition contained in the Refugee Convention.
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Recognising that non-refoulement is one of the principal
pillars of any comprehensive protection strategy, the Conference
encourages the States in the South Asian sub-continent to consider
signing and ratifying the Refugee Convention as well as the
Protocol (1967) and to put in place national legislation to enforce
the principles enshrined in these two instruments, inspired by the
model law on refugees (2007) initiated by the Eminent Persons Group.
The Conference further invites the governments of the States of
South Asia to work towards a regional framework for protection under
the auspices of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC).
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Emphasising the importance of durable solutions in the face of new
displacement paradigms and upholding the fundamental right to
freedom of movement, the Conference calls on the States in the South
Asian sub-continent to ensure that conditions are established for
refugees and IDPs to make informed choices from a range of options,
including voluntary return in safety and dignity, local integration
and relocation to a third place.
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In light of a significant increase of IDPs in the world and South
Asia, the Conference invites a dialogue, in close coordination with
people affected by displacement and with the active involvement of
the epistemic community, among stakeholders in South Asia on the
effective implementation of the “UN Guiding Principles on
Displacement” (1998) by way of adopting national legislation, or
addressing the protection needs of IDPs by other comprehensive
measures ensuring clear benchmarks and minimum standards.
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Mindful of the need to sensitise all segments of society on
protection needs of displaced populations as well as the linkages of
marginalisation and forced migration, the Conference calls on the
electronic and print media to assume its responsibility for
(a) clarifying in the discourse the definition of refugees, IDPs as
well as migrants, (b) providing independently researched,
comprehensive and balanced information on displacement situations,
and (c) refraining from all reporting potentially jeopardising
displaced persons, their families or the population hosting them.
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In this context, the Conference (a) emphasises the potentially
beneficial role of local language media to advocate protection
strategies, (b) encourages reporting from a distinctively South
Asian perspective, tapping into existing regional media outlets and
possibly creating new media structures for that purpose, and
(c) notes the increasing influence of the new media in shaping
public opinion.
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Taking note of the UNHCR Ten Point Plan of Action titled “Refugee
Protection and Mixed Migration” (2007), the Conference proposes to
identify suitable topics for consideration in upcoming meetings and
conferences of the Working Group-to-be. One set of issues that
emerged from discussion as a pertinent theme for further
deliberation would be the fencing of borders, its impact on
displacement and possible solutions. Other themes include the
prospects and limitations of State institutions, including Human
Rights Commissions, and the involvement of civil society in devising
new policies and strategies.
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In recognition of the fact that the majority of refugees, IDPs and
trafficked persons are women and children, the Conference
highlighted the need for gender and age sensitive assistance,
protection and capacity-building policies and programmes and will
feed its findings into the activities of the Working Group.
In light of the findings of the Fourth Assessment Report from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and their likely implications
for migration and internal displacement, the Conference underlined the
need for a South Asian dialogue and a regional Action Plan on Climate
Change based on the principles of human security as well as justice and
equity on issues of environmental concern. The Conference also stressed
the importance of devising a framework for redressing issues pertaining
to the impact of growth-oriented development on sections of society
vulnerable to displacement. |