South Sudan GP20 Concept Note
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Thematic Priorities |
Durable Solutions / IDP Engagement / Law and Policy |
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Timeframe |
2018 |
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Stakeholders |
Ministries and State bodies – Humanitarian and Development actors – Experts – African Union – IDPs – Host communities |
Problem Statement
South Sudan has experienced continued displacement following a political conflict that arose in December 2013. By the end of 2017, an estimated 1.9 million persons are internally displaced in South Sudan while over two million have fled and remain displaced as refugees in neighbouring countries. In 2016, the Council of Ministers of South Sudan’s Transitional Government reportedly approved a national framework for the return, resettlement and reintegration of displaced persons. Collective efforts should therefore focus on creating enabling conditions for solutions, including transitional solutions, wherever and whenever possible in conditions of safety and with dignity. One means to achieve this is through the ratification of the Kampala Convention, which South Sudan signed in 2013, as well as the development and implementation of a national policy to enhance protection and solutions for IDPs.
Objectives
UNHCR will organize national consultations with IDPs and a diverse ranges of stakeholders to raise awareness on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the Kampala Convention as well as to identify challenges and opportunities for a national IDP policy to underpin a national framework for solutions. The national consultations will serve to enhance IDP engagement in decision-making while also informing the work of national policy-makers in South Sudan in moving forward with ratification of the Kampala Convention as well as in developing and implementing a national IDP policy.
Activities
- One day and half of national consultations (roundtable): the event will be a combination of panel, group discussions and presentations and plenary deliberations.
The activities prior to the national consultations include:
- Reactivation of the Task Force on Kampala Convention co-led by UNHCR and the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO).
- Training of parliamentarians and relevant authorities on the Kampala Convention, Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and relevant regional and international instruments.
- Meeting with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MHADM) for their engagement in the consultations.
- Dialogue and consultations with IDPs utilizing an age, gender and diversity approach.
- Mapping of stakeholders to engage for the ratification of Kampala Convention and the development of a national IDP policy (expert on IDP law/ professor from local University/ CEPO, NGO, Women’s Bar Association, South Sudan Law Society, South Sudan Land Commission, ICRC Regional legal expert, and other national actors as may be recommended by MHADM and Dr. Francis Deng).
- Desk review and gap analysis of national legislation, documents and policy relevant to internal displacement.
- Preparation of papers and presentations by IDP representatives, experts and lead speakers to inform discussions and deliberations.