1. IDPs and the International Community’s Evolving Response
Course at Ewha Womans University GSIS
Janice L. Marshall and Mamadou Dian Balde
12 April 2007

2. Internal displacement
An ancient issue caused by conflicts, generalized violation of human rights,…
Until recently, has not been addressed by the international community: mainly, because persons within their countries are supposed to be protected by their governments and that the international community considers “intervention for such persons” as violation of sovereignty
Tension between protection of human beings and sovereignty.

3. The international community starts being interested in the issue
Sudan, the 1970s: internally displaced persons because of conflicts are assisted with refugee populations (impossibility to assist only refugees)
Problem became more important when civil wars erupted in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Soviet Union. Many people flee their regions of origin: the ones who cross international borders are protected, often as refugees; the ones who remain, are not protected!

4. The Guiding Principles of Internal Displacement (1)
Francis Deng from Sudan (Special Repr. Of the SG for IDPs) gathers a team of lawyers and ask to identify the legal norms protecting the internally displaced: international human rights law; international humanitarian law; and refugee law
Guiding Principles are prepared and submitted to the UN Economic and Social Council in 1998.

5. The Guiding Principles of Internal Displacement (2)
Thirty articles (like the UDHR)
Definition of IDPs
Protection against displacement
Protection during displacement
Humanitarian aid in settings
Durable solutions

6. Definition of IDPs People or Group of People
Forced or obliged to leave their homes or habitual places of residence
Reasons for leaving: effects of armed conflicts, generalized violence, violation of human rights, natural or human made disasters
Have not crossed an internationally recognized state border

7. Legal value of the Guiding Principles
They guide states, international governmental and non governmental organizations,..
Many states have incorporated them in their domestic law: Columbia, Uganda, Sri Lanka,...
The Columbian Constitutional Court refers to the Guidelines in a 2000 decision

8. For more information Visit:
Internal Displacement Monitoring Center at
UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs at:

9. End. Comments and Questions.