Internal displacement in the context of the slow-onset adverse effects of climate change

The present document is submitted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) pursuant to the call for inputs by the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons on “Internal displacement in the context of the slow-onset adverse effects of climate change”. Through this submission, IOM intends to support the development of the upcoming report on the issue of internal displacement linked to slow-onset natural hazards in the context of the adverse effects of climate change, to be presented to the United Nations General Assembly in October 2020.

With this submission, IOM would like to bring to the attention of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of the Internally Displaced Persons, five key areas which the Organization recognizes as priorities for action and where it could offer support and strategic orientation (p. 3):

1. Supporting coherence and consistency between the Report, the work of the Special Rapporteur and key ongoing policy processes of relevance, in particular the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
2. Supporting innovative research, data and evidence work on internal displacement in the context of the slow-onset adverse effects of climate change, in collaboration with IOM’s data and research-focused initiatives, including through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM)and the work of Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC).
3. Supporting human rights and protection approaches in the work on internal displacement in the context of the slow-onset adverse effects of climate change, in line with relevant international law and frameworks, as well IOM’s internal strategic and guidance documents.
4. Support consistency among processes focused on internal displacement via IOM’s contributions, including to the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement, the GP20 Plan of Action and the implementation of the Strategy and Workplan 2019-2022 of the Platform on Disaster Displacement.
5. Joint visibility and advocacy on internal displacement in the context of the slow-onset adverse effects of climate change through: IOM’s Governing Bodies, including IOM Councilhigh level events; joint advocacy efforts at key events, such as the UN Climate Change Conference; and within programmes and projects at regional and national levels via IOM’s network.