27 February 2020
The United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement has kicked off its work in its first meeting which concluded on 27 February 2020 in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was opened by the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who called on the Panel to think out of the box and present bold and practical recommendations to solve the world’s internal displacement crisis.
The Panel discussed the priority issues before it and met with States, including many grappling with internal displacement, as well as NGOs, civil society, the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the World Bank and United Nations agencies. It agreed a work plan which includes field visits and consultations with Governments, other stakeholders, IDPs themselves and affected communities at national and regional levels. These and other activities of the Panel are expected to commence as soon as possible. The Panel plans to reconvene in full in New York in the spring to take advance its work. Among others, it will once again hold consultations with a range of stakeholders.
For further information, please contact:
George Okoth-Obbo
ASG/Secretary and Head of Secretariat
UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement
Office # 142
Palais des Nations
8-14, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1211 Geneva 10. Switzerland
Tel: +41-22-917.49.77
Mobile: +41-76-691.08.95
Email: george.okoth-obbo@un.org