Convenor
Muthu Sudalaiyandi Thangam
Sarah Tucker College
Abstract
The displacement of people refers to the forced movement of people from their locality or environment and occupational activities. The causes of displacement are of course manifold and complex. Quite apart from natured disasters or development induced displacement in most cases the root causes of displacement are those that have triggered or at least contribute to armed conflict or situations of violence in the first place. Poverty, the effects of climate change, scarcity of resources, political instability and weak governance and justice systems may all be catalysts for conflict induced displacement.
The conflict induced displacement is most likely to have affected households multiple times. It is frequently associated with suffering, economic losses, homelessness, loss of cattle and delayed education. Landlessness, joblessness, marginalization, food insecurity, increased mortality, social disintegration and violation of human rights are the risks in displacement. Displacement from ones habitual residence and loss of property without fair compensation can, in itself, constitute a violation of human rights. In addition to violating economic and social rights arbitrary displacement can also lead to violation of civil and political rights including arbitrary arrest, degrading treatment or punishment, temporary or permanent disenfranchisement and the loss of one’s political voice. When security forces take action to move people forcibly, this may cause direct threat to their right to life. Development induced displacement is a social problem affecting multiple levels of human organization from tribal and village communities to well developed urban areas.
Despite the difference in legal status and the entitlement to aid from the international humanitarian community, the causes of displacement and the experiences of being displaced are often similar for both Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) and refugees. Much like refugees IDPS often feel like strangers in their place of refuge, where the local population may be from a different ethnic and religious group. The main difference between IDPS and refugees is that the internally displaced remain within the borders of their own country.
Tackling the problem of displacement in all its dimensions requires a huge concerted effort at both the state and international level. Rebuilding their lives and livelihoods are important. The international human rights mechanism and instruments should give full range of protection to this vulnerable section of our community. Freedom from fear is listed as fundamental human rights. Human rights defenders are trying to transform their pain into hope.