The proposed Training Workshop and Consultation on Internally Displaced Persons in South Asia (IDPs-SA) is one of the initiatives taken by FORUM-ASIA in its effort to strengthen the role of human rights defenders at the sub-regional level. It is expected to provide an opportunity for FA members and partners engaged in IDPs issues to get together to share their experiences and gain new perspectives and knowledge to improve their work.The proposed Training Workshop and Consultation on Internally Displaced Persons in South Asia (IDPs-SA) is one of the initiatives taken by FORUM-ASIA in its effort to strengthen the role of human rights defenders at the sub-regional level. It is expected to provide an opportunity for FA members and partners engaged in IDPs issues to get together to share their experiences and gain new perspectives and knowledge to improve their work.

The decision to hold this meeting was in accordance with the recommendation of FORUM-ASIA members from South Asia during the Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) held on 24-25 November 2005, in Kuala Lumpur. Members identified IDPs as one of top priority issues in South Asia and emphasised the importance of revitalising IDPs network in Asia which was initiated in 2004 by FORUM-ASIA.

Members also emphasised the need to strengthen sub-regional dynamics and coalition building amongst FA members and partner organisations in dealing with common challenges at the sub-regional level. In this regard, FORUM-ASIA is organising the first Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) Forum in Nepal from 6-8 June 2006 under the theme “Promoting People’s Solidarity for Democracy and Peace – Strengthening the Role of Human Rights Defenders in South Asia”

FORUM-ASIA began to address the IDPs issues at the regional level in 2003 at the request of some members who had been engaged in IDPs issues at the grass-root level. FORUM-ASIA organised a regional consultation on IDP in Thailand in July 2004 which produced “Suphan Buri Declaration” on IDPs. As a result of this meeting, Asian Network on Internally Displaced Persons (ANI) was formed.

The Sri Lanka Workshop is a follow-up to Thailand Consultation in 2004 to review action plans and recommendations contained in the Suphan Buri Declaration in the South Asian context in view of consolidating its network in South Asia.

FORUM-ASIA is co-hosting the workshop with the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement of the Brookings Institution, USA. Community Trust Fund (CTF), one of FORUM-ASIA’s member organisations in Sri Lanka shall also serve as the local host.

Within the regional Secretariat, a task-force on IDPs was formed to enhance synergy of a few programmes which are directly or indirectly dealing with IDPs-related issues; namely Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Development (ESCR-D), Peace and Human Security (PHS), Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) as well as South Asia Programme.
Objectives

The main objectives to be achieved in the spirit of “Promoting the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in South Asia – Strengthening the Role of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs)” are set as below:

• Enhance capacity of human rights defenders and organisations in dealing with IDPs issues by learning about international human rights standards and mechanisms;
• Identify common key issues and challenges of IDPs in South Asia;
• Improve cooperation among HRDs and organisations by developing joint plan of actions and strategies on IDPs issues at the national, sub-regional and regional level

Participants

There are about 40 participants, including about 10 local participants, who are expected to join the workshop from the following organisations/ institutions:

• FORUM-ASIA member or partner organisations working on IDPs issues in 7 South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)
• FORUM-ASIA member or partner organisations from outside South Asia, especially, Aceh and Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
• National Human Rights Institutions in South Asia (Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka)
• International NGOs operating in South Asia
• Inter-governmental organisations operating in South Asia

Resource persons and trainers for training session will come from The Brookings Institution. A few staff from the Regional Secretariat of FORUM-ASIA will join as organiser and facilitator.

Please contact the following persons for further information:

Anselmo Lee, Executive Director • Phone: +66-1-8689178
Mohamed Asan Saleem (Saleem), Consultant on IDPs • Phone: +66-5-8446710