National Economic Conference 2023: Resettling Refugees and IDPs
South Sudan is aiming to facilitate the voluntary return of displaced persons with safety and dignity as peace returns to the region. Lessons from past return efforts are discussed, highlighting the challenges faced and policy recommendations for successful resettlement. The conference led by Professor Leben Nelson Moro emphasizes the importance of upholding the rights and well-being of refugees and IDPs.
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National Economic Conference, 2023 Resettling Refugees and IDPs By Professor Leben Nelson Moro University of Juba Tel. and WhatsApp +211 927121540 1
Outline - Introduction - Meaning of voluntary return in safety and with dignity - Lessons learned from past return of refugees and IDPs - Ongoing support to returning refugees and IDPs - Measures to ensure safe and dignified return of refugees and IDPs - Conclusion - Key policy recommendations 2
Introduction South Sudanese have a long experience of forced displacement. There are close to 4 million displaced South Sudanese (2.5 million IDPs and 2.3 million refugees). As peace returns, displaced persons are spontaneously returning to places of origin or choice. Organized mass returns have not started. Some of the displaced persons are not returning home for the first time. There have been cycles of displacement or pendular movements over decades. R-ARCSS (Chpt 3.1.1.5) states that Parties shallensure right of return of refugees and IDPs in safety and dignity. The relevant international and regional legal instruments (the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1969 OAU Convention, and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement) requires respect of these. Paper discusses efforts to facilitate voluntary return of IDPs and refugees in safety and with dignity. 3
Meaning of voluntary return in safety and with dignity Voluntariness means absence of measures to coerce refugees or IDPs to return or to discourage them from returning to places of origin or choice. Safety means return under conditions of legal, physical and material security. Dignity means treatment with respect etc. during or after return to places of origin or chioce. 4
Lessons from past return of refugees and IDPs After Addis Ababa Agreement (1972): at the end of the war, 500,000 persons hid in the bush and 180,000 were refugees. UNHCR supported return of the IDPs and refugees under goodoffices notion, and there was commitment on the part of the Nimeri government to return of displaced persons, for example, his government contributed into special fund more than what commitment of the Government and good support from UNHCR and other partners were crucial to the success of the return exercise) (So, was expected. 5
After the 2005 CPA: millions of people were killed or displaced during the war. Many people were facilitated to return voluntarily, in safety and with dignity but there many challenges including: Persistence of insecurity in some areas Inadequate preparation of the whole return process Poor coordination among partners Insufficient start-up packages 6
Ongoing Support to returning refugees and IDPs MHADM and RRC are developing policies to promote return in safety and with dignity, such as the 2020 South Sudan durable Solutions Strategy and Action Plan. Spontaneous returns are happening even though some organizations and individuals (including academics) saying conditions are not conducive for return due to persistence of violence, food insecurity, lack of commitment of construction funds etc. But, support is being provided to those returning on their own (for example under the Pockets of Hope Program). 7
Measures to ensure safe and dignified return of refugees and IDPs Government and partners should adopt measures to promote returns in safety and with dignity: Ensure security and safety for IDPs, refugees and host communities Provide basic services Enhance peacebuilding and reconciliation across the country Implement livelihood activities Enhance government institutional capacities Strengthen partnerships and coordination 8
Conclusion R-ARCSS requires the Parties to ensure right of return of IDPs and refugees in safety and with dignity. The Government and partners should create conducive conditions for return in safety and with dignity by dealing with obstacles to returns including fully implementing the R-ARCSS so as to ensure security, provide basic services, and support livelihoods (of course boosting economic growth is essential) 9
Key policy recommendations Ensure security throughout the country Continue providing relief to the needy and reconstructing war-affected areas Restore housing, land and property Provide access to documentation Enhance participation in public affairs Provide access to effective remedies and justice Provide access to livelihoods (means improving the economy) 10
THANK YOU 11
