Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons A/RES/72/182 Noting also the need for finding durable solutions for internally displaced persons in their countries and addressing possible obstacles in this regard, and recognizing that durable solutions include voluntary and sustainable return in safety and with dignity, as well as voluntary local integration in the areas to which persons have been displaced or voluntary settlement in another part of the country, without prejudice to the right of internally displaced persons to leave their country or to seek asylum, Recognizing the important contributions made by national and local authorities and host communities to protect and assist internally displaced persons, acknowledging that the hosting of large groups of internally displaced persons can put pressure on those authorities and communities, and recognizing also the importance of supporting host communities, as well as local capacities, by addressing their needs, Emphasizing that all durable solutions for internally displaced persons should be approached from a humanitarian and development perspective and should involve the timely engagement of internally displaced persons and host communities, Underlining the necessity of safe and unhindered humanitarian access for the relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations to in ternally displaced persons, including those residing in conflict areas, in accordance with international law, Expressing particular concern at the increased level of discrimination experienced by internally displaced persons, Recalling the relevant norms of international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, and recognizing that the protection of internally displaced persons has been strengthened by identifying, reaffirming and consolidating specific standards for their protection, in particular through the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, 3 Recalling also the relevance of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 4 and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977, 5 as a vital legal framework for the protection of and assistance to civilians in armed conflict and under foreign occupation, including internally displaced persons, Recognizing that violations of international humanitarian law can ca use displacement, and recalling that displacement could be reduced if international humanitarian law was respected by all parties to armed conflict, in particular the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, as well as the prohibition of forced displacement of the civilian population, unless the security of the civilians involved or imperative military reasons so demand, 6 Welcoming the increasing dissemination, promotion, application and integration into domestic laws and policies of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement when dealing with situations of internal displacement, Recognizing that 2018 marks the twentieth anniversary of the issuance of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, and acknowledging th at this offers an important opportunity to raise awareness of those standards and of the plight of internally displaced persons in all regions of the world, __________________ 3 4 5 6 17-23174 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970–973. Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17513, arts. 13 and 17. 3/11