Forced Displacement and Housing, Land, and Property Ownership Challenges in Post-Conflict and Reconstruction

Very few of Iraq's 4.9 million refugees and internally displaced persons have exercised their right to return to their homes. Some would like to do so in the near term, but are constrained by secondary occupants in their homes and the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. Others are waiting for the security situation to improve before returning home. Others believe it may never be safe to return home, given the changed character of their neighborhoods and the nature of threats made before or since they left. Experience in other countries shows that regular courts often cannot handle the volume of property cases arising from displacement. With this in mind, I have developed the idea of the Peace-at-Home Trust to return the homes of displaced households in Iraq to the effective control of their lawful owners so they may choose how to use, manage or dispose of their homes. A concept paper for this trust is attached. I would welcome comments and in particular any relevant experience in other countries.

Forced Displacement and Housing, Land, and Property Ownership Challenges in Post-Conflict and Reconstructio...