Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law: Series Number 38: The International Protection of Internally Displaced Persons

Despite the fact that there are up to 25 million internally displaced persons around the world, their plight is still little known. Like refugees, internally displaced persons have been forced to leave their homes because of war and human rights abuses, but they have not left their country. This has major consequences in terms of the protection available to them. This 2005 book aims to offer a clear and easily accessible overview of this important humanitarian and human rights challenge. In contrast with other books on the topic, it provides an objective evaluation of UN efforts to protect the internally displaced. It will be of interest to all those involved with the internally displaced, as well as anyone seeking to gain an overall understanding of this complex issue.

Acknowledgements; Table of cases; Table of treaties and other international documents; Introduction; 1. Internally displaced persons and refugees: conceptual differences and similarities; 2. The legal protection of internally displaced persons; 3. The institutional framework of protection for the internally displaced; 4. Protection strategies for the internally displaced; 5. Case study: internal displacement in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 6. Reconceiving sovereignty and intervention; Conclusions; Annex 1: The guiding principles on internal displacement; Bibliography.