UN General Assembly votes on Georgia’s IDP resolution

The United Nations General Assembly has gathered in New York, USA vote on a resolution about Georgia’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees today.

Members participating in the 90th plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly will vote on the Georgian-sponsored draft resolution concerning people who fled Georgia’s breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The resolution called for "the development of a timetable to ensure a voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of all internally displaced persons and refugees" to their homes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It also urged respect for their property rights.

If approved today, it will be the seventh time a resolution of this topic has passed at the UN General Assembly.

When Georgia first presented a similar resolution in May 2008, 14 members of the General Assembly voted in favour while 11 voted against.

Over the years support for the resolution had increased, where last year, 63 members voted in favour of the Georgia-sponsored resolution.

The resolution stressed the need for unimpeded humanitarian activities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the importance of protecting property rights of refugees and IDPs and ensuring their peaceful return to their homes.

The draft resolution underlined the importance of the Geneva Discussions, which commenced in October 2008, and the need to continue these discussions which addressed the issue of the voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of IDPs and refugees on the basis of internationally recognized principles and conflict-settlement practices.

The resolution stated the Secretary General of the United Nations must file an annual report to the UN General Assembly on the situation of IDPs in Georgia. The Secretary General is due to release his next report in September.

On another note, 36 Georgian non-Governmental organisations signed a special statement noting the importance of recognizing the continuing struggle facing Georgian IDPs. The note was sent to a number of Embassies in New York City, USA.

The statement said: "While we understand very well that UN resolutions do not actually return the displaced persons to their homes, it is still important to us that the rights of the IDPs are upheld by the international community, it is essential for us that the whole word stands united in support of the rights of the displaced persons to return to his/her home.”