A durable solution cannot be said to have been achieved if internally displaced persons cannot enjoy physical safety and security and cannot benefit from the effective protection of national and local authorities, including protection from the threats that triggered the initial displacement or that may cause renewed displacement. It is essential that national and local authorities pay specific attention to the protection of internally displaced persons, maintain monitoring mechanisms to ensure that internally displaced persons are not victims of further violations in their place of return, local integration or resettlement and ensure accountability by receiving complaints and addressing them. The specific protection needs of internally displaced women and girls should be given dedicated attention and it may be useful to appoint trained gender focal points in different sectors of the police and other law enforcement bodies.