HRC47: Oral statement during ID with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of Internally Displaced Persons

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:Divine Olomo

Thank you, Madame President,

CSW welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur.

We agree with the Rapporteur’s assessment that ‘housing, land and property issues can also be closely related to the enjoyment of other human rights.’

In Mexico, forced displacement often occurs in the context of attempts to force religious minorities to convert or participate in activities relating to the majority religion in their communities.

For forcibly displaced families such as these, few options are available to them. Barred from working their own land, they are often forced to live in temporary accommodation and left with few alternatives to earn an income. Forcibly displaced children often face disruptions to their education and obstacles to enrolling in school.

We therefore reiterate to Mexico the Rapporteur’s assertion that whether IDPs choose to resettle, integrate locally or return, they are entitled to access to livelihoods and services, and urge the government to intervene in cases where children have been denied access to education as a result of their displacement.

The plight of Hmong Christians in Vietnam also illustrates the link between housing, land and property issues and internal displacement.

Hmong Christians from the Northwest regions of Vietnam continue to be subject to arbitrary detention, beatings by police, and forced or coerced eviction on account of their religious beliefs and have been forced to flee to other parts of the country, including the Central Highlands. Those who have attempted to resettle in the Central Highlands face barriers to accessing basic public serves, land ownership and employment because they are denied household registration documentation.

CSW calls on the Vietnamese authorities to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief for people of all faiths and none, and to grant Hmong Christians documentation to ensure that they can access basic services.

Thank you