Objectives

At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Paula Gaviria Betancur, will conduct an official country visit to the Republic of the Marshall Islands from 5 to 15 October 2024. During this visit, the Special Rapporteur will assess the human rights situation of internally displaced persons, and actions taken to prevent, respond to, and resolve internal displacement through human rights-based approaches. She will also identify good practices and challenges and formulate recommendations to the State and relevant stakeholders, related to the realisation of all human rights of internally displaced persons. 

Following a country visit, the Special Rapporteur presents a report with her findings, conclusions and recommendations to the State concerned at the Human Rights Council. The conclusions and recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur are a useful tool for States to improve measures to ensure the human rights of internally displaced persons.

The Special Rapporteur will begin the visit in Majuro and intends to travel to other atolls and islands to gain first-hand understanding of different internal displacement situations. During her visit, and as a means of gathering information from all relevant stakeholders, she intends to convene meetings with Government officials; representatives from non-governmental and civil society organizations; community-based groups and internally displaced persons themselves. She will also meet with relevant international agencies working on issues related to internal displacement in Majuro. 

At the end of the visit, the Special Rapporteur will debrief relevant Government officials on her preliminary findings, and in line with established practice, she will also hold a press conference in order to share the preliminary findings with the broader public. Additional information on the venue and time of the press conference will be shared prior to the visit.

The Special Rapporteur will submit a full report on the country visit to the Human Rights Council at its 59^th session in June/July 2025.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

In preparation of the visit, the Special Rapporteur invites all interested individuals and organizations from or with expertise on the situation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including national human rights institutions, international organizations, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, activists, academics and internally displaced persons themselves, to provide input for the preparation of her visit. 

She would welcome information on internal displacement situations resulting from any and all causes including the country’s nuclear legacy, sudden and slow-onset disasters including those that occur in the context of the adverse effects of climate change, military activities, development projects, and conflict or violence. 

While all submissions are welcome and the below points are not meant to be exhaustive, the Special Rapporteur would be grateful to receive comments that address the following topics:

1. Legal, institutional and policy frameworks related to internal displacement, including prevention of displacement, protection and assistance to IDPs, recognition and fulfillment of the human rights of IDPs, and promoting durable solutions to displacement, as well as human mobility components of frameworks related to housing, land, and property rights, nuclear justice, and climate change mitigation and adaptation;
2. Available data and evidence on internal displacement, including overall and disaggregated figures, trends, and causes of displacement;
3. Standards of living and access to basic services for internally displaced persons, including healthcare, psychosocial support, adequate food, water, sanitation, electricity, housing, livelihoods, social services and benefits;
4. Participation of internally displaced persons in decisions and processes that affect them;
5. Intersectionality, with a specific attention to different segments of the internally displaced population including women, older persons, children and youth, persons with disabilities; ethnic, linguistic, and religious minorities; Indigenous persons; LGBTQ+ persons, etc.

How inputs will be used

All inputs will be treated confidentially by the Special Rapporteur and her team, and for the sole purpose of preparing for the country visit.

Reports, academic studies and other types of background materials can be attached as annexes to the submission.

The Special Rapporteur greatly appreciates the effort that goes into making such contributions and looks forward to reading the submissions.