UN expert on internally displaced persons launches follow-up visit to Serbia and Kosovo*

GENEVA (7 September 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, will undertake a visit to Serbia and Kosovo from 11 to 15 September 2016 to review the human rights situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). He will follow-up on the recommendations made in his 2013 report** to the UN Human Rights Council.

“Many years after the first wave of displacement, IDPs are still facing problems of access to land, housing, property, and prospects for durable solutions,” Mr. Beyani said, recalling his previous visit to Serbia and Kosovo.

“During my visit, I will consider progress made regarding the protection and assistance provided to all IDPs. I will also examine all possible options to achieve durable solutions for IDPs,” Mr Beyani added.

During his five-day visit, Mr. Beyani will meet with relevant authorities, civil society organisations and UN partners, among others. He will visit Belgrade and Pristina, and will consult directly with IDPs and host communities themselves in various locations.

At the end of his visit, Mr. Beyani will issue a statement with his findings.

(*) All references to Kosovo in the present document should be understood to be in compliance with Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

(**) Check the Special Rapporteur’s 2013 report on Serbia and Kosovo: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/26/33/Add.2

ENDS

Mr. Chaloka Beyani, professor of international law at the London School of Economics, was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons by the Human Rights Council in September 2010. As a Special Rapporteur, he is part of the Special Procedures of Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization, and serve in their individual capacity. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IDPersons/Pages/IDPersonsIndex.aspx

Check the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IDPersons/Pages/Standards.aspx

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Serbia: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/RSIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Belgrade during the visit: Ms. Harriet Hirst (hirst@unhcr.org); Mr. Davor Rako (rako@unhcr.org / +381 11 308 2116) or Mr. Mario Pavlovic (pavlovic@unhcr.org / + 387 62 990 135)
 In Pristina during the visit: Ms. Harriet Hirst (hirst@unhcr.org); Ms. Malgorzata Bratkraj (bratkraj@unhcr.org / +377 44 115 560) or Mr. Mario Pavlovic (pavlovic@unhcr.org / + 387 62 990 135)
In Geneva before and after the visit: Mr. Graham Fox (+41 22 917 9640 / gfox@ohchr.org) or Ms. Harriet Hirst (+41 22 739 8110 / hirst@unhcr.org)

For your news websites and social media: Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:
Twitter: @UNHumanRights
Facebook: unitednationshumanrights
Instagram: unitednationshumanrights
Google+: unitednationshumanrights
Youtube: unohchr