Conference on Displaced Persons
The National Human Rights Commission organized a two day National Conference on "Relief and Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons". The Conference which was held on March 24&25, 2008 was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil. The Conference focused on persons who had been displaced temporarily or permanently due to natural disasters, man-made disasters, developmental interventions, conflicts etc.
The issues discussed at the Conference included:
" Whether the current domestic legal and institutional framework was adequate to address human rights implications of displacement?
" Are human rights concerns mainstreamed in the relief and rehabilitation process? Do the present Disaster Plans and Guidelines drawn up at various levels incorporate human rights concerns?
" How do we ensure that human rights are better integrated into various legislations, policies, plans drawn at different levels to deal with disaster-related displacement as well as development related displacement?
" What would be the most effective strategy to deal with relief and rehabilitation of displaced persons?
" Do the Land Acquisition Bill, 2007 and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2007 integrate human rights concerns to protect rights of the displaced persons?
" If not, what further changes could be made in these Bills from the human rights standpoint to better protect the rights of displaced persons?
" What recommendations could be made in this regard to the Department-related Standing Committee of the Parliament on Rural Development?
In his address on the occasion, the NHRC Chairperson Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu deliberated on the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2007. He said that the Bill primarily would be applicable to the Rehabilitation and Resettlement of persons affected by acquisition of land for projects. The Bill, however, did not explicitly cover different categories of displaced persons, in particular those displaced due to conflicts or disasters. Justice Shri Babu said that the Commission believed that displacement of any type has human rights implications. The Conference was an attempt to bring various stakeholders on the same platform to discuss human rights issues related to displacement in a holistic manner especially to suggest legislative and other changes in handling such issues.
The first session on 'Human Rights of Displaced Persons - International and Domestic Legal Framework' was chaired by Justice Shri D.M. Dharmadhikari, Chairperson, Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission. The second session on 'Disaster related Displacement' was chaired by Ms. Jyoti Rao, Member, National Disaster Management Authority. The third session on 'Development related Displacement' was chaired by Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC. The fourth session on 'Role of Civil Society in Relief and Rehabilitation' was chaired by Shri P.S. Sharma, Member, NHRC. The final wrap-up session was chaired by Chairperson, NHRC. In this session the draft suggestions which emerged at the Conference, were presented by Shri Akhil Kumar Jain, Secretary General, NHRC. The suggestions made in the Conference would now be considered by the Commission for making suitable recommendations.
Officials of the Government of India, State Governments and Union Territories dealing with the subject, academics, NGOs, representatives of the National Commission for Minorities, Chairman /Members of State Human Rights Commissions and representatives of UN agencies in India participated in the Conference.
The issues discussed at the Conference included:
" Whether the current domestic legal and institutional framework was adequate to address human rights implications of displacement?
" Are human rights concerns mainstreamed in the relief and rehabilitation process? Do the present Disaster Plans and Guidelines drawn up at various levels incorporate human rights concerns?
" How do we ensure that human rights are better integrated into various legislations, policies, plans drawn at different levels to deal with disaster-related displacement as well as development related displacement?
" What would be the most effective strategy to deal with relief and rehabilitation of displaced persons?
" Do the Land Acquisition Bill, 2007 and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2007 integrate human rights concerns to protect rights of the displaced persons?
" If not, what further changes could be made in these Bills from the human rights standpoint to better protect the rights of displaced persons?
" What recommendations could be made in this regard to the Department-related Standing Committee of the Parliament on Rural Development?
In his address on the occasion, the NHRC Chairperson Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu deliberated on the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2007. He said that the Bill primarily would be applicable to the Rehabilitation and Resettlement of persons affected by acquisition of land for projects. The Bill, however, did not explicitly cover different categories of displaced persons, in particular those displaced due to conflicts or disasters. Justice Shri Babu said that the Commission believed that displacement of any type has human rights implications. The Conference was an attempt to bring various stakeholders on the same platform to discuss human rights issues related to displacement in a holistic manner especially to suggest legislative and other changes in handling such issues.
The first session on 'Human Rights of Displaced Persons - International and Domestic Legal Framework' was chaired by Justice Shri D.M. Dharmadhikari, Chairperson, Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission. The second session on 'Disaster related Displacement' was chaired by Ms. Jyoti Rao, Member, National Disaster Management Authority. The third session on 'Development related Displacement' was chaired by Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC. The fourth session on 'Role of Civil Society in Relief and Rehabilitation' was chaired by Shri P.S. Sharma, Member, NHRC. The final wrap-up session was chaired by Chairperson, NHRC. In this session the draft suggestions which emerged at the Conference, were presented by Shri Akhil Kumar Jain, Secretary General, NHRC. The suggestions made in the Conference would now be considered by the Commission for making suitable recommendations.
Officials of the Government of India, State Governments and Union Territories dealing with the subject, academics, NGOs, representatives of the National Commission for Minorities, Chairman /Members of State Human Rights Commissions and representatives of UN agencies in India participated in the Conference.