A/79/317 45. In response, the International Association for Impact Assessment has endorsed a “development without resettlement” approach, advocating for the normalization of non-displacement alternatives in policy and the promotion of in situ, human-scale development strategies. It has introduced the Dublin Declaration on Fair and Equitable Land Access, which includes 23 recommendations clustered around six key principles: (a) Recognizing the rights, knowledge and agency of affected people, as well as their right to enhanced well-being; (b) Promoting inclusive decision-making through a fair and transparent process from project inception to completion; (c) Ensuring a fair distribution of impacts and benefits, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals; (d) Maintaining high standards of professionalism and planning and allocating sufficient resources to improving the lives of affected people and their communities; (e) Addressing power imbalances and contextual factors that influence outcomes; (f) Ensuring remedy and accountability through access to grievance redress mechanisms, remediation and legal recourse. 46. The Special Rapporteur shares this assessment. It may finally be time to retire the myth that displacement and therefore resettlement are acceptable in the public interest or the “greater good” of development. This myth has existed throughout the history of modern capitalism, but especially since the birth of development discourse in the 1940s and 1950s. While the need for resettlement may always arise due to unintentional or structural displacement resulting from conflict or climate change, intentional displacement and the concomitant resettlement of communities in the name of development is no longer credible and acceptable from a human rights perspective. The Special Rapporteur calls for a paradigm shift, proposing that resettlement should be permitted only in cases in which it is called for due to overwhelming and persistent threats to the survival of communities such as those resulting from conflict or climate change. Planned projects for economic development, even if an attempt is made to justify them by supposedly compelling and overriding public interests, should no longer be used to justify displacement and resettlement. III. Planning and design prior to resettlement 47. The planning and design phase of resettlement projects is critical for achieving durable, human rights-based solutions that allow affected people to successfully re-establish their lives, livelihoods and communities. During this phase, several key activities should take place: (a) Rights discussions. Essential discussions should address the right to remain, the right to return and the right to resettlement; (b) Resettlement site selection. Decisions regarding the choice of resettlement sites should be made; (c) Project development. Projects are conceived and developed in collaboration with affected and host communities, based on the principle of benefit-sharing; (d) Financing and monitoring. Securing project financing for full resettlement, including for monitoring and follow-up, is essential; (e) Grievance procedures and remedies. Developing grievance procedures and ensuring judicial and non-judicial remedies is crucial for addressing concerns; 24-15075 13/24

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