THE NANSEN INITIATIVE Hannah Entwisle Chapuisat Research and Partnerships Officer
Source: earthtones.org
Source: metro.co.uk
4 Main gaps: Cross-border displacement Standards regarding admission/stay/return Criteria to distinguish displacement from voluntary migration (particularly slow-onset) Mechanisms for cross-border cooperation (states and organizations) Unclear agency mandates Weak cross-border operational strategic coordination (humanitarian/development partners) Funding gaps, particularly durable solutions
Nansen Initiative Steering Group: Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines. UNHCR & IOM are standing invitees. Consultative Committee Envoy of the Chairmanship Secretariat
Goal Build consensus among interested governments. (Not to draft a convention or soft-law instrument. ) Consensus on key principles and elements for the protection of persons displaced across borders in the context of natural disasters Set the agenda for future action at domestic, regional and international levels Trigger or feed into ongoing processes at all levels
A bottom up approach Regional consultations Consolidated knowledge Global dialogue Protection agenda Follow-up
Envisaged outcome Protection Agenda International Cooperation Standards of Treatment Operational response (1)Common understanding of issues and challenges (2)Good practices and tools (3)Key principles for the three pillars (4)Respective roles and responsibilities of relevant actors (5)Action plan for follow-up
Pacific Consultation
Pacific Consultation Key Conclusions Moving is a last resort: But migration, relocation, displacement already a reality Planning should protect people’s rights, safeguard cultural identity, and ensure they can live in safety and dignity Migration in dignity (education/training) Relocation poses challenges & protection problems (host communities/land/culture) Small, low-lying islands: slow and sudden-onset
Pacific Consultation Next Steps Continue regional discussion to find Pacific solutions and try to prevent displacement (Pacific Island Forum) Integrate human mobility issues within relevant regional policies (Pacific Plan/DRR/CC) Address human mobility within national plans (NAPs, DRR, DRM, development, humanitarian) Raise Pacific perspective in international fora (NI side event in Bonn)
Central America Consultation Emerging themes: Sudden-onset disasters & displacement Gaps for temporary protection Challenge: mixed migration flows and extensive cross-border movement generally Strong cross-border mechanisms and planning for disaster risk reduction and response Thematic issues: violence, urbanization
The Nansen Initiative Contact: Hannah Entwisle Chapuisat