Abstract:
Globally, the issue of internal displacement has over the years emerged as
one of the most pressing human rights concerns. For many years, millions
of people have been displaced for various reasons, including conflicts,
natural disasters and development projects. Recognising the need to
address the issue of internal displacement, the United Nations developed
a set of Guiding Principles in 1998. One significant provision of the
Guiding Principles is their recognition of a right not to be arbitrarily
displaced, which requires states to ensure the protection of persons in
displacement situations with reference to fundamental human rights
safeguards. However, the Guiding Principles are not clear on the yardstick
against which to assess compliance by states with the duty. In light of the
foregoing, the article explores the normative content of the right not to be
arbitrarily displaced under the United Nations Guiding Principles on
Internal Displacement.
Description:
An excerpt of this article was
presented at the Conference on the United Nations at 70: The UN and the
Developing World: Seventy Years On, University of Johannesburg, South Africa,
22-23 October 2015.
