Yemen GP20 Concept Note
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Thematic Priorities |
Durable Solutions / IDP Engagement / Law and Policy / Peacebuilding |
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Timeframe |
2018 |
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Stakeholders |
IDPs – Host community – Government authorities – Civil society – Local and national NGOs – UN agencies |
Problem Statement
In 2013, Yemen adopted a national policy on IDPs that is well grounded in the Guiding Principles. The policy identifies strategic goals and priority actions, reaffirms the rights of IDPs and outlines institutional responsibilities. The implementation of this policy has however been challenging, particularly following the onset of the ongoing conflict.
Since 2010, to strengthen community engagement and participation, to facilitate peaceful coexistence and enhance two-way communication with persons of concern, UNHCR has been supporting community-based protection networks (CBPNs) comprised of IDPs of diverse age, gender and backgrounds as well as host community members. CBPNs have been established through UNHCR’s partners in all major locations with high concentrations of IDPs across the country. Given the CBPNs’ wide geographic coverage, they have been an important communication channel through which information has been disseminated to the communities and their feedback solicited.
Objective
With the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles, activities will aim at further advancing the objectives of the CBPN project by empowering rights-holders to become active advocates for their legal entitlements to protection and assistance, while encouraging duty-bearers to acknowledge and fulfil these rights. Through these activities the community networks will be capacitated and cultivated for future engagement in the planning and management of durable solutions, in peace processes, as well as in the elaboration of national and local development plans, in line with the GP20 priorities.
Activities
A series of awareness-raising sessions on the Guiding Principles and the national IDP policy will be conducted with a wide range of stakeholders, including IDPs themselves, host community members, government authorities, civil society, local and international NGOs, as well as UN agencies, with CBPNs being actively engaged in the organization and co-facilitation of these events.
Consultations with IDP and host communities on potential engagement of IDPs in local management structures, including at the level of village committees, will be conducted to promote their participation in the decision-making and engagement in the design of Humanitarian Plus interventions, which aim at strengthening and sustaining community resilience with a focus on building a stronger foundation for sustainable solutions to the crisis when the situation allows.
The consultations will be also used as a platform for the training of CBPN members on community mobilization, which will be conducted through the demonstration of a training video, to promote community activism and participation.
Sensitization sessions on the IDP Guiding Principles and national IDP Policy for local media through the Migration and Refugee Study Center (established and supported by UNHCR) will be conducted, in order to promote understanding of the state’s responsibilities and humanitarian actors’ role in providing protection to the internally displaced.