UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in partnership with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) continues to provide capacity development on IDP protection with its most recent session resulting in concrete action points towards the efforts to expand the Philippines’ protection space for and with internally displaced people (IDPs).
UNHCR is supporting the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) in the efforts to integrate IDP protection in government strategic plans and operational priorities.
UNHCR is supporting the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) in the efforts to integrate IDP protection in government strategic plans and operational priorities.
UNHCR is supporting the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) in the efforts to integrate IDP protection in government strategic plans and operational priorities.
UNHCR is supporting the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) in the efforts to integrate IDP protection in government strategic plans and operational priorities.
Speaking to the 92 training participants representing 36 national government agencies, NAPC Lead Convenor Secretary Lope B. Santos III expressed that while there are existing laws related to displacement response, implementation of such frameworks remains a concern and urged partners and stakeholders to support the enactment of the IDP bills in the Senate.
With this being the third training undertaken by UNHCR with NAPC, UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo shared that the continuous collaboration was testament to the “collective goal to place IDP Protection at the heart of Government efforts.”
Protection encompasses all activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the letter and spirit of relevant bodies of international law, specifically international humanitarian and human rights, and refugee laws. For UNHCR, this covers international and regional refugee, statelessness and IDP frameworks.
The NAPC TAO-TWG for the Government Sector endorsed capacity building support to member Leagues and the development of an Executive Order to create an inter-agency platform at the national level for the promotion and mainstreaming of IDP protection and durable solutions in the country.
The NAPC TAO-TWG for the Government Sector endorsed capacity building support to member Leagues and the development of an Executive Order to create an inter-agency platform at the national level for the promotion and mainstreaming of IDP protection and durable solutions in the country.
As a result of the training, participating agencies agreed to provide technical comments to further enhance the provisions of IDP bills, scale up popularization and advocacy efforts to certify the IDP bill as an urgent legislative measure, replicate the development of local IDP-related policies as parallel measure, integrate displacement data in existing national statistical systems, develop an Executive Order that will fast track the mainstreaming of IDP protection and durable solutions in Government plans and programs, and expand and institutionalize capacity building interventions to Government platforms. Furthermore, the last two points have been approved and endorsed in the NAPC Technical Action Officers – Technical Working Group (TAO-TWG) Meeting that took place after the training.
“UNHCR continues to monitor displacement situations in Mindanao and provides technical support to partners on the ground. But while there are significant steps we have undertaken, more has to be done. We need empowered advocates to promote IDP protection in every sector. With every capacity development that we conduct, we hope that those advocates emerge from our participants. These sessions are hoped to be a multiplier effect that will not only raise awareness on the need for IDP protection and a rights-based IDP law but allow IDP Protection champions to emerge,” Valdeavilla-Gallardo said.
Emphasizing the commitment of the UN to the principles of Leave No One Behind and Shared Responsibility, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Gustavo González supported this remark and added that “we firmly hold the belief that together we possess the capacity to bring about a profound and lasting impact on the lives of IDPs.”
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ABOUT UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
In the Philippines, UNHCR has maintained a presence for over 40 years, working on providing durable solutions to refugees, ending and reducing statelessness, and empowering displaced families.
For more information, please contact:
Karen Cepeda
External Relations Associate
[email protected]
(02) 88172398
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