Report

Planting the Seeds for housing land and property rights protection and peace in Myanmar

José Arraiza, ICLA Specialist|Published 29. Mar 2017

Myanmar Housing, land and property (HLP)

Myanmar is undergoing fast, deep and multiple transitions in the economic, political and legal fields, including a peace process to end decades of civil wars. However, these complex and uneven processes are playing out at a slower pace when it comes to improving the protection environment for persons affected by conflict. It is therefore a key moment to plant the seeds for the restitution of housing, land and property (HLP) rights, as this will benefit the peace process, protection and development.

While some significant steps forward have already been taken and authorities have sought to improve the HLP situation after decades of “land grabbing” and forced displacement, much needs to be done to address the needs of the most vulnerable.

NRC in Myanmar, in co-operation with Displacement Solutions has recently developed three publications.

The first one, “Restitution in Myanmar”: an assessment of potential restitution avenues for outstanding property claims in Myanmar based on field research and international experiences.
The second, “A Framework for Resolving Displacement in Myanmar”, is a document outlining how Myanmar could constructively apply the UN's Pinheiro Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons (2005) as a key tool to resolve ongoing forced displacement throughout the country.
Thirdly, NRC has published a lengthier “Introductory Guide on Understanding and Claiming Housing, Land and Property Restitution Rights in Myanmar: Questions and Answers”, which aims at raising legal awareness on rights and potential remedies concerning HLP.