Internal Displacement in Indonesia: Toward an Integrated Approach

The Brookings-CUNY Project, in collaboration with the Center for Research on Inter-Group Relations and Conflict Resolution (CERIC), the National Commission on Human Rights (KomnasHAM), OCHA, UNDP and UNHCR, will hold a seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia to raise visibility to the problem of internal displacement and identify ways of improving the national and international response. The meeting will discuss the establishment of a National Commission for IDPs and Community Recovery, the creation of effective information system on IDPs, programs to rebuild trust and solidarity among different ethnic and religious groups, the Guiding Principles, and other issues related to displacement in Indonesia, such as addressing the basic needs of IDPs, the special needs of IDP women and children, education, safety and protection, economic empowerment, information systems and coordination.

Since 1998, large numbers of persons in different parts of Indonesia have had to flee from one part of the country to another, primarily as a result of civil conflicts, in particular ethnic and religious strife and independence struggles, accompanied by serious violations of human rights. Some of the displaced have fled from one province or island to another province or island; others have escaped only a short distance to a neighboring town, village or camp situation. The number of officially recorded internally displaced persons in Indonesia today is more than one million. Many are in need of basic assistance, protection and reintegration and development support.

It was against this background that a seminar will be held to raise visibility to the problem of internal displacement and identify ways of improving the national and international response. Timed to coincide with the visit of Dr. Francis M. Deng, Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, more than 130 persons will participate. Some 30 participants from 10 of the most affected provinces, Aceh, North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Java, Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku and Irian Jaya. They will be joined by more than 100 other participants from government offices, international organizations, local and international NGOs and research institutions. The Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs opened the seminar at a ceremony to be attended by several government officials, diplomats and representatives of the media.

The specific purposes of the seminar will be to:

• share information on the situation of internally displaced persons in Indonesia and further develop and strengthen an effective information system;
• promote the dissemination of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement;
• support the development of a concerted strategy to address internal displacement, in particular by strengthening cooperation and joint programming among governmental institutions, international organizations and civil society, and among NGOs;
• consider the special needs of internally displaced women and children as well as of host communities, and promote their respective participation in developing response programs; and
• consider the proposed tasks and responsibilities of the proposed National Commission for Internally Displaced Persons and Community Recovery (Komnas Pengungsi dan Pemulihan Komunitas).