During a bilateral meeting with Cecilia JIMENEZ-DAMARY, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Congress President Gudrun MOSLER-TÖRNSTRÖM underlined the commitment of the Congress in addressing human rights issues of IDPs. She informed the Special Rapporteur that this question would be taken over into the first edition of the new Handbook on Human Rights at local and regional level which will be presented at the next Congress Session (7-9 November 2018).
The President also referred to a Congress report currently under preparation which is dedicated to voting rights, at the local level, of migrants and IDPs as an element of their successful long-term integration in Europe’s municipalities. This report will also be adopted during the Plenary Session in November. The President invited the Special Rapporteur to participate in the debate.
Ms JIMENEZ-DAMARY stressed the importance of local authorities in ensuring appropriate conditions of living for IDPs who are citizens of the respective country. “Sharing good practices would create a dynamic amongst local authorities”, said the Special Rapporteur who underlined also the importance of cooperation with the Congress and with European local authorities.
