Human Rights Situation of Internally Displaced Persons In Georgia
During the reporting period representatives of the Public Defender travelled throughout the country to monitor the situation with respect to internally displaced persons. More than 700 internally displaced persons were counselled as a result of more than 250 visits in former IDP compact settlements. The present paper has been developed based on factual circumstances and results of case analysis.
In 2016 the Public Defender’s Office continued to actively participate in the work of the Commission on IDP Issues at the Ministry of the Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodations and Refugee of Georgia. In addition, the Public Defender is also a member of the supervisory board overseeing the implementation of the action plan of the State IDP Strategy.
The year of 2016 was marked by the most extensive and long-term accommodation process for IDPs. While 179 IDP households with living conditions containing life hazards or health risks were provided with accommodation in the reporting period, the issue of accommodating IDPs living in deplorable buildings continue to remain a pressing problem.
Analysis of the situation in the property rights of IDPs reveals that this particular group has been suffering from the same persisting problems over the course of many years. These problems include low level of awareness of IDPs on developments in the field of IDP’s rights. It is critical to ensure that IDPs are involved in decision-making which will considerably improve their awareness of these processes. Bad living conditions of many internally displaced persons residing in certain housing as well as rehabilitation projects of former collective centres and a poor quality of rehabilitation are also among burning issues affecting IDPs.
Importantly, since 2016 the Ministry alongside a long-term accommodation project has been moving towards a needs based approach which is of critical importance for effectively responding to the needs of internally displaced persons. This process must be based on an in-depth analysis of IDPs’ socio-economic conditions and a vision for tailored assistance.
