07 Aug The report of the Conference on “Social and economic rights for forcibly displaced persons during the conflicts in former Yugoslavia” is now published

The Conference, which took place in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2017, provided an opportunity to assess the progress made regarding the implementation of social and economic rights within the Sarajevo Process and examine ideas for further improvements of the living conditions of displaced persons from the region by relying on the rights enshrined in the European Social Charter.

In the region, housing had been identified as the key to durable solutions, and the Regional Housing Programme would appear to be the best way forward not only for refugees, but also for internally displaced persons. Another important element of durable solutions was that housing should also contribute to re-establishing livelihoods, so that displaced persons can become self-sustaining again.

During the Conference, many positive developments from the countries of the region were shared through the interventions of public officials, UNHCR, Ombudspersons and NGOs. It was noted the interest of civil society to use of the European Social Charter, notably through the collective complaints mechanism or by providing “shadow reports” to the European Committee of Social Rights. But also that the European Social Charter provides inspiration and aspiration for the work of Ombudspersons in the region. Hence, as a conclusion, it was emphasized that the European Social Charter provides a useful framework for further action on securing social rights of internally displaced persons.

Here you can find the report: https://rm.coe.int/report-conference-idps-sarajevo/16808c8ed0

References from the official website of Council of Europe