The European Union, in a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 25 June 2026, warned that the gap between protections guaranteed under international law and the reality for internally displaced persons (IDPs) continues to grow, with nearly 83 million people displaced worldwide. The statement, delivered during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, expressed concern that serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law—including unlawful displacement, attacks on civilians, and denial of essential relief—are driving repeated and protracted displacement.
The EU called on all parties to armed conflict to comply with international humanitarian law and human rights law, emphasizing that non-derogable rights such as the right to life, prohibition of torture, and prohibition of slavery must be upheld even in emergencies. It stressed that civilians and civilian objects must be protected, humanitarian personnel respected, and rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access ensured. Violations must be independently investigated and those responsible held accountable.
The EU reaffirmed its strong support for a human rights-based approach to internal displacement. The EU and its Member States remain the largest providers of global humanitarian funding, supporting displaced persons and host communities through protection, basic services, legal documentation, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, and mine action. The EU also promotes durable solutions across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, guided by the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, and meaningful participation of IDPs. It urged states to fully implement these frameworks.
how can states promote durable solutions for IDPs and ensure that returns are genuinely voluntary, safe, and sustainable, particularly where homes, essential infrastructure, and property records have been destroyed?
The statement reflects the EU's ongoing diplomatic engagement on internal displacement, a topic that has been a regular focus at the Human Rights Council. The EU's position emphasizes accountability, humanitarian access, and long-term solutions, balancing the immediate protection needs of IDPs with the broader goal of ending displacement cycles. The impact of this stance is significant for IDPs and host communities, who benefit from EU-funded protection and services, and for states, which are urged to adopt human rights-based policies. The EU's call for accountability may also affect parties to armed conflict, potentially increasing pressure to comply with international law.