National policy on durable solutions for conflict - affected displacement launched

The National Policy on Durable solutions for Conflict- Affected Displacement was officially launched by the National Polices, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training, Skills Development and Youth Affairs Ministry in Colombo recently.

This policy, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was developed by the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern province Development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Youth Affairs which was subsequently adopted by cabinet in August 2016. The objective of this policy is to provide guidance to the government and to all stakeholders on how to provide durable solutions to conflict affected communities.

Durable solutions are essentially about the protection of fundamental human rights.Whether it be voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement, every refugee, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or returnee deserves a durable solution; a solution that offers a comprehensive package that helps communities integrate back into society.

Speaking on the national policy, National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern province development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Youth Affairs Ministry Secretary, V. Sivagnanasothy said “The Durable Solutions Policy must serve as a guiding policy framework for humanitarian and development interventions to ensure that communities are integrated back into society in line with the principle of “leaving no one behind”. I want to take this opportunity to thank UNDP for providing the technical assistance to formulate the Durable Solution Policy”

This initiative was supported by UNDP under the European Union funded Catalytic support to Peacebuilding Programme in Sri Lanka which is an 8.1 million euro programme implemented by UNICEF, UNDP and UN Habitat in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka.

UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Jorn Sorensen said the Policy lays the foundation for the establishment of a rights-based set of principles and standards to guide all stakeholders working with and for displacement affected communities, in accordance with Sri Lankan and international law.