20 February 2023

Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

It is a pleasure to welcome Assistant Secretary-General Piper to this informal meeting of the General Assembly in his role as Special Adviser on Solutions for Internal Displacement.

It is no secret that we are in a time of interlocked crises.

From the uncertainties of climate change to the scourge of war, this is a watershed moment for humanity as a whole – and for the United Nations as an institution.

Times like these are fertile ground for violence. And violence is the ideal breeding place for violations of human rights.

We know it from our own experiences, from our own history and from what we see happening every day.

Just recently we have witnessed a skyrocketing number of IDPs in Türkiye and Syria in the earthquake there.

We have the numbers: over 100 million people have been forcibly displaced around the globe – the vast majority being internally displaced.

This is a humanitarian tragedy of immense proportions.

It is a tragedy because migration, whether within or across borders, should be a choice, never a necessity.

Making matters worse, forced displacement results in much of the weight being borne by those most vulnerable and marginalised groups.  

Excellencies,

As climate change continues to worsen, as war continues to rage, as human rights continue to be massively violated, the numbers of IDPs will continue to swell.

The World Bank estimates that 216 million people could be forced to move internally by 2050 due to climate inaction.

Due only to climate inaction.

The Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and the Action Agenda provide Member States with data and evidence that is key to sound public policy.

But we have learnt enough lessons. Now we need action to help displaced people and decrease the number of IDPs worldwide.

Dear Colleagues,

Today, I am pleased that we have a Special Advisor that focusses on solutions.

Every part of those solutions is critical: providing resources, adequate policies and conditions, but, first and foremost, the genuine political will to effectively address the crisis. 

Excellencies,

Dear Colleagues,

Forced displacement is one of the gravest humanitarian issues of our time and is one that is set to worsen in the upcoming years.

Maintaining internal displacement on the agenda is necessary but not sufficient.  

Strengthening the international mechanisms for the protection of and assistance to IDPs is necessary but not sufficient.

The task in front of us is nothing short of transformation.

We should urgently reach sustainable solutions in this field, too.

I wish ASG Piper every success in his endeavor and encourage all Members to engage in the spirit of resolve so that we could tackle this great global challenge.  

Thank you much.