Launch of the Pinheiro Principles Handbook for the MENA Region
On 20 February 2025, the Third Arab Land Conference in Rabat, Morocco, will host a special session to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Pinheiro Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons and launch . This session will serve as a milestone in advancing the right to housing and property restitution in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, bringing together key experts, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss practical solutions and best practices for addressing restitution challenges.
The session will also mark the official launch of the handbook Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons. Implementing the Pinheiro Principles in the Middle East and North [ES1] Africa, a collaborative publication developed by FAO, IOM, OHCHR, UN-Habitat and NRC that compiles good practices and case studies from across the region, providing concrete guidance on how to implement the Pinheiro Principles to resolve housing and property restitution issues and support durable solutions for displaced populations across the MENA region.
During the session, Dr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and author of the Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons, will deliver a keynote address, reflecting on the significance of the Pinheiro Principles over the past two decades and their continued relevance in securing housing and property rights for refugees and internally displaced persons.
A high-level panel discussion will feature experts from UN-Habitat, FAO, NRC and HLRN, actively working on housing, land, and property rights across the MENA region and globally. Panelists will share insights from their work, discuss ongoing challenges, and propose forward-looking approaches to restitution and durable solutions.
The session will take place at 9:30 - 11:00 (GMT+1) in person, at the Blue Room of the Third Arab Land Conference in Rabat, and online. Interpretation will be available in Arabic, English, and French.
For more information and to register for the Conference, please visit the Third Arab Land Conference webpage.
Below the links* for online streaming of the session.
*links for online attendance will work only at the time of the session on 20 February.