Housing and Land Rights Network

Habitat International Coalition

Remedies for Climate Change and Conflict-induced Displacement

MENA Regional Land Forum VII, Istanbul, 12–13 May 2024

Land Research Center participated in the 8th session of the Land Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, from June 11 to 13, 2024, under the title “Remedies for Climate Change and Conflict-induced Displacement in the Middle East and north Africa (MENA) Region".

This regional event brought together participants from HIC member organizations in the MENA region, including 18 representatives from Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen, alongside specialized participants. The forum focused on crucial issues concerning climate change and conflicts in the MENA region, which have displaced over 35 million refugees internally and externally. Discussions aimed at seeking justice for right-holders and discussing remedies for the displaced people.

Several crucial issues were discussed in the Middle East, including:

• Climate change in the region.
• Urban loss and damage consistency (Lebanon).
• TJ & land restitution in Yemen.
• Global Climate justice platforms.
• Climate change and urban issues.
• Climate change in Western Sahara.
• Climate finance and L&D in Tunisia.
• Climate change at local communities.
• Quantifying costs, loss and damage.
• Documenting violations against land, housing, and property rights.
• Israeli Violations to the right to land, housing, causing forced displacement and refugee status in Palestine - case of displacement.
• Displacement in Sudan (internally and externally).
• Violations of land, housing, and property rights in Iraq.
• Violations of land, housing, and property rights in Yemen.
• Violations of land, housing, and property rights in Syria.
• Regional strategic plan.

Land Research Center presented a research paper on Israeli violations against Palestinian land, housing, and property rights and the accompanying consequences of forced displacement and refugees. To read the full paper, click here.

The forum provided a platform to exchange experiences, enhancing cooperation, and solidarity among network members with the aim of advocating for human rights in land, housing, and property in the region. The 8th Land Forum aimed to facilitate coordination and collaboration among member organizations, following unmet promises in implementing global commitments under Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, regional conferences through UN programs concerning habitat and food security, sustainable development goals, and other international and regional forums for policy development and action activation.

General goals of Land Forum:

Developing the Earth Forum in the Middle East and North Africa as a mechanism for guiding research, assessments, field operations, and advocacy for problem-solving based on human rights approaches.

Updating knowledge on relevant regional and global operations that are currently ongoing.

Providing analytical tools for relevant stakeholders in civil society to monitor and evaluate global policy commitments related to lands (e.g., Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and the New Urban Agenda).

Establishing a database for the activities of members of the International Alliance of Effective Habitats for the period 2024-2027.

Special goals for land forum:

1. Setting goals and defining next steps for the upcoming United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and collaboration through the United Nations human rights system and United Nations Development System.
2. Defining objectives and upcoming procedures to influence the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-29 in November 2024).
3. Unifying civil society efforts in the Arab world towards justice and reparations for refugees and displaced persons.
4. Starting Preparation for other relevant advocacy opportunities proposed by participants in the Earth Forum.

Conclusions and recommendations:

• Enhancing cooperation and unifying efforts among member organizations.
• Emphasizing the importance of capacity building for civil society organizations and governmental bodies to advocate for the right to land, housing, and property in the region.
• Advocating for strengthened efforts at national, regional, and international levels to enact policies that protect human rights in the context of land and natural resource management, consistent with global frameworks and commitments.
• Highlighting the urgent need for robust strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities in the Middle East and North Africa, including conflict-induced displaced populations, through adaptation measures and environmental initiatives.
• Supporting ongoing efforts to document and collect data to deepen understanding of the interaction between climate change, conflict, and displacement in the Middle East and North Africa, providing a basis for evidence-based decision-making and interventions.
• Condemning the massacres committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza and advocating within international institutions for boycotting the criminal occupation.