a) Context
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Improved socio-political and security conditions in Liberia have prompted the voluntary repatriation of 15,000 Liberian refugees with the support of United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR);
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A new crisis in Guinea Conakry may prompt thousands to seek refuge in the fragile north-west of Côte d’Ivoire with serious socio-economic (if not political and military) implications for both new arrivals and host communities;
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The dismantlement of the ZoC and the disbanding of militias have created a volatile security environment in western Côte d’Ivoire, where most refugees and foreign communities live; this affects the security and well-being of resident populations and returnees, as well as the humanitarian character of the settlement sites.
b) Progress Made
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Voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees continued at a reduced rate. So far more than 15,000 Liberian refugees have been assisted to repatriate, and close to 18,000 refugees have returned to Liberia spontaneously since September 2004.
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Protection and material assistance are being provided to some 6,000 Liberian refugees in Nicla camp, 2,600 refugees in the Tabou transit centre, and 1,800 urban refugees of different nationalities;
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This assistance is gradually being phased out to promote voluntary repatriation.
c) Challenges/New Objectives
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Liberian refugees who do not opt to return home will have to be integrated into Ivorian villages and urban centres as of 1 July 2007. UNHCR has finalised arrangements with the Ivorian authorities to facilitate this integration by providing individual packages and support to local structures that will help under a community-based approach. Refugees will also be informed of the legal provisions on citizenship should they consider applying for Ivorian nationality. Arrangements with the Government postponed to 30 June 2007 the closure of the Nicla refugee camp and Tabou transit centre.
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Continued protection and assistance to urban refugees in a declining economic environment, in which employment opportunities are scarce and income-generating activities lack adequate markets;
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Phasing out voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees in safety and dignity in line with the regional multi-year plan.
d) New Îndicators
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Number of Liberian refugees repatriating to Liberia;
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Number of Liberian refugees integrating in villages;
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Number of urban refugees reaching a certain level of self-sufficiency.
a) Context
Social cohesion remains fragile largely due to land disputes and inter-community tensions, especially in the west and in the Tabou area. The IDP return and resettlement process could exacerbate these tensions, so long as necessary conditions are not put in place to support it (non deployment of administration; lack of security and of freedom of movement; housing, land and property rights addressed in a discriminatory manner). A culture of impunity persists due to the absence of the rule of law in the central, northern and western regions, and the erosion of the rule of law in the south through corruption and lack of independence of the judiciary. Women and children remain especially vulnerable to structural discrimination and growing poverty, resulting for instance in unequal rights or access to education and employment, and to increased risks of sexual or labour exploitation. Of particular concern is the situation of some 4,000 children who were allegedly associated with any of the former warring factions.
b) Progress Made
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Establishment of Inter-ministerial Committee for the Coordination of Assistance and Protection of IDPs with a national action plan and a Bill on IDPs based on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement;
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Merger of the Protection Network into the Protection Cluster with the mandate to coordinate the operational response of partners to priority protection problems and regional protection clusters established in Tabou/San Pedro, Guiglo and Bouaké, with UNHCR carrying out the lead role;
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Social cohesion and protection activities of partners resulted in ongoing dialogue and IDP return in some areas in the west;
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Increased attention paid and support provided to returnees and vulnerable IDPs; Increased willingness by Government forces and pro-Government militia to release Children Associated with Fighting Forces (CAFF).
c) Challenges/New Objectives
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Strengthen the capacity and ownership of the Government to implement the key actions in the Ouagadougou Agreement to promote the respect for human rights;
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Increase donor interest through accurate information and analysis of protection problems;
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Regional Protection Clusters to systematically collect and share human rights information;
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Extend coverage of the Protection Clusters to areas where the lead agency (UNHCR) has no presence;
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Integrate priority protection issues, including child protection and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), into national Protection Cluster initiatives, and reinforce interaction with specialised working groups on child protection and gender.
d) New Indicators
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IDP return, resettlement and reintegration conducted in accordance with the Guiding Principles;
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Governmental and NGO social cohesion mechanisms and activities strengthened and inter-community tensions reduced;
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Number of Government institutions with a “protection mandate” redeployed and actively contributing to the promotion and respect of human rights;
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Number of children associated with armed groups demobilised and reintegrated.
e) Participating Organisations
Protection Cluster: United Nations agencies, SCF-UK and Sweden, IRC, Search For Common Ground (SFCG), UNOCI Human Rights/Rule of Law/Elections/Public Information, CARE International, IOM, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), NRC. ICRC participated as an observer. Also participating were specialised working groups on child protection and gender.
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