Global: UN endorses new guidelines on property rights of displaced persons, welcomed as restitution tool for IDPs

In a significant step forward for IDPs’ rights to restitution, the Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons were endorsed by the UN Subcommission on Human Rights at its annual session held in Geneva in August. The Principles reflect standards of international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. They also take stock of best practices developed in previous post-conflict restitution policies and programmes. The Principles emphasise the right to restitution and envisage compensation in certain circumstances, in particular where restitution is factually impossible or when peace settlements provide for a combination of the two.