Normative Frameworks and Durable Solutions on Internal Displacement. A Look to Africa (PDF)

Master's Thesis from the year 2023 in the subject Politics - Topic: International development, , language: English, abstract: Objective of the research is to assess the existing normative frameworks on internal displacement and forward recommended improvements on handling IDPs. The thesis will attempt to answer the following questions. What are the existing normative frameworks on internal displacement and durable solutions; international; regional-specific to Africa; and national-specific to Ethiopia? What are the major causes of internal displacement in Ethiopia? What are the major vulnerabilities to the IDPs and hosting communities? What are effective, durable solutions to support IDPs? What are the major challenges in selecting durable solutions for displaced people? How can durable solutions best be realized in contexts of conflict and fragility?

A number of definitions and concepts can be generated from various sources to define the term "internal displacement". The definition of "internally displaced persons" is generally not included in binding documents. The term "displaced persons" is only used to refer to the category of internally displaced persons as defined in other relevant General Assembly resolutions. The concept of "displaced persons" was given an unclear explanation, although it particularly incorporated and largely referred to the term "internally displaced persons". The issue of IDPs has been part of international discourse since 1972, when the UN officially used the term in a resolution concerning refugees and displaced persons in Sudan. Nonetheless, the first formal definition was incorporated into the Analytical Report in 1992 by the then UN Secretary General, Boutros B. Ghali. The definition was criticized because it unnecessarily provides time-based and numerical benchmarks. The IOM's proposed definition includes returnees who, having fled to another country, subsequently return to their own country but are unable to return to their original place of residence. Attempts have been made to look through various sources of internal displacement concepts. There is no single definition for it since it's a social science concept.