Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons

About the mandate

Internally displaced persons may face discrimination and obstacles to fully enjoy their human rights because of their displacement. This mandate was created to:

• Address the complex problem of internal displacement, in particular by mainstreaming the human rights of the internally displaced into all relevant parts of the United Nations system;
• Work towards strengthening the international response to the complex problem of internal displacement due to reasons including armed conflict, generalized violence, human rights violations and disasters; and
• To engage in coordinated international advocacy and action for improving protection and respect of the human rights of internally displaced persons, while continuing and enhancing inclusive dialogue with Governments, intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors.

The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons is an independent human rights expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The first Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons was appointed in September 2010, with the same functions as the former Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons. The mandate was most recently renewed in 2022, through Resolution A/HRC/RES/50/6.

Learn more about the mandate

Current mandate holder

Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur (Colombia) was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons by the Human Rights Council in September 2022 and assumed the mandate on 1 November 2022.

Read Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur’s full biography