The participants recognized the difficulties in finding durable solutions for nearly two million refugees and displaced persons resulting from conflict in the region. While voluntary repatriation is a preferred approach, a number of initiatives have attempted to encourage people to return to their pre-war communities. Results, however, have been modest, and costs have been high. Among the reasons for the lack of return is the absence of adequate and effective legal arrangements concerning property and citizenship rights. These issues must be resolved in order to provide returnees with genuine options, including voluntary repatriation.
Property rights are crucial in the transitional phase of post-conflict societies.
For example, the severe shortage of housing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the significance of property as the only remaining asset of most displaced persons, has made the realization of property rights a preoccupation after the war. Currently, numerous property transactions take place in an unregulated environment, creating uncertainty for prospective returnees. Drawing on the experience of the Commission for Real Property Claims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, some conference participants proposed to establish a regional property rights framework, with appropriate engagement by the international community, to ensure a comprehensive and effective approach to just solutions. In particular, some participants urged that consideration be given to forming an informal working group to discuss the details of any such arrangements. Many potential returnees also face difficulties in establishing their citizenship.