Resources

Here you can find a selection of the most important documents and web resources pertaining to the rights of internally displaced people.

• 1. Key websites
• Guiding Principles Global Database Comprehensive collection of official documents about the rights of the internally displaced and the application of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. The database includes relevant national laws and policies; regional and international instruments; UN documents and statements of national authorities.
• Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Human Rights of IDPs Access to all documents pertaining to the mandate and the work of the Representative, including reports to UN bodies, UN resolutions and press releases since 1992
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Global information on internal displacement caused by armed conflicts and violence. The website gives access to the Global Internally Displaced Persons Database, which documents the situation of internally displaced people in more than 50 countries. Other information available includes training materials on the Guiding Principles and special reports.
• Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement Access to all documents published by the Project, including studies, conference reports, and articles. The Project leads research and advocacy to promote more effective policies and institutional arrangements in response to internal displacement.
• Forced Migration Review Practice-oriented forum for debate on issues facing refugees and internally displaced people in order to improve policy and practice. FMR publishes articles by practitioners, researchers and displaced people which share information, experience and policy recommendations, and promotes wider public knowledge of, and respect for, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
• 2. The Guiding Principles – Full text and annotations
• Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, English version As presented to the UN Commission on Human Rights at its 54th session (E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2), 1998
• Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, English version (with forewords by Jan Egeland, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and Francis M. Deng) 2004 reprint
• Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement – translated versions The Guiding Principles have been translated into over 40 languages.
• The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement: Annotations, Revised Edition Walter Kälin, 2008
• 3. References to the Guiding Principles - Inter-governmental organisations
• 2005 World Summit Outcome UN General Assembly Resolution 60/1 (see para. 132), 2005
• Council of Europe, Internal displacement in Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1631, 2003
• Protection of and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons UN General Assembly Resolution 62/153 (see paras. 10 and 11), 2008
• Mandate of the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons UN Human Rights Council Resolution 6/32, 2007
• Internally displaced persons Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/50, 1998
• General Conclusion on International Protection (No. 87 (L) - 1999) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Executive Committee for the High Commissioner’s Programme
• Khartoum Declaration: Ministerial Conference on Internally Displaced Persons in the IGAD Sub-Region Intergovernmental Authority on Development, September 2003
• Organisation of American States, Internally Displaced Persons General Assembly Resolution 2417 (XXXVIII O/08), 2008
• Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Ministerial Council, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Decision No. 4/03 (see para. 13), 2006
• Council of Europe, Recommendation (2006)6 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on internally displaced persons Committee of Ministers, 2006
• Council of Europe, Explanatory Memorandum Council of Europe Recommendation (2006)6 Committee of Ministers, 2006
• "Persons displaced during conflicts have the right to return" Viewpoint of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, September 2008
• World Food Programme, Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa September 2008
• World Food Programme, High Food Prices September 2008
• 4. Legal framework for the protection of IDPs – Overview
• Compilation and analysis of legal norms Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/57 (E/CN.4/1996/52/Add.2), 1995
• Compilation and Analysis of Legal Norms, Part II, Legal Aspects Relating to the Protection against Arbitrary Displacement, Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Francis Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/39 (E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.1), 1998
• 5. Framework for the protection of IDPs – Key international human rights documents
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966
• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984
• Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984
• ILO Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, 1989
• ILO Convention (No. 182) on Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts, 2000
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006
• International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances, 2007
• Slavery Convention, 1926
• Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions, and Practices similar to Slavery, 1956
• 6. Framework for the protection of IDPs – Key international humanitarian law documents
• Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 1949
• Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 1977
• Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 1977
• Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, 1997
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts, 2000
• Customary International Humanitarian Law, ICRC, 2006
• 7. Framework for the protection of IDPs – Key international criminal law documents
• The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 2002
• Statute of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991
• Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committee in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Violations Committed in the Territory of the Neighbouring States, between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994
• 8. Framework to the protection of IDPs – Key regional law documents
• African Charter on Human and People's Rights, 1981
• African Convention on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990
• American Convention on Human Rights, 1969
• Arab Charter on Human Rights, 2004
• European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, 1950, as amended
• European Social Charter, 1996 revised
• European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, 1992
• Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, 1995
• Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, 2006
• International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, Protocol on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons, 2006
• International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Protocol relating to property of returning IDPs and refugees, 2006
• 9.1 Policy, guidance and tools – IDP-specific documents
• Guidance on Profiling Internally Displaced Persons, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre/Norwegian Refugee Council, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2008
• Protection of conflict-induced IDPs – Assessment for Action Protection Cluster and Early Recovery Cluster Working Group, 2008
• Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons Protection Cluster Working Group, 2007
• When Displacement Ends, Framework for Durable Solutions, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2007
• Addressing Internal Displacement in Peace Processes; Peace Agreements and Peace-building Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2007
• Guide to International Human Rights Mechanisms for Internally Displaced Persons and Their Advocates Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2006
• Addressing Internal Displacement: A Framework for National Responsibility Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2005
• Implementing the Collaborative Response to Situations of Internal Displacement, Guidance for United Nations Humanitarian and/or Resident Coordinators and Country Teams Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2004
• Handbook For Applying the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, The Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 1999
• Manual on Field Practices in Internal Displacement – Examples from UN Agencies and Partner Organizations of Field-based Initiatives Supporting Internally Displaced Persons Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 1999
• 9.2 Policy, guidance and tools –Other relevant documents
• Camp Management Toolkit Norwegian Refugee Council, 2008
• Human Rights and Natural Disasters -Operational Guidelines and Field Manual on Human Rights Protection in Situations of Natural Disaster Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 2008
• Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-based Evictions and Displacement Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing as a Component of the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living, Miloon Kothari (A/HRC/4/18, annex 1), 2007
• IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2007
• Handbook on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons – Implementing the Pinheiro Principles OCHA/IDD, UN HABITAT, UNHCR, FAO, OHCHR, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), 2007
• Protecting Persons Affected by Natural Disasters – IASC Guidelines on Human Rights and Natural Disasters Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2006
• Women, Girls, Boys and Men – Different Needs – Equal Opportunities - Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2006
• Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005
• Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/17), 2005
• Explanatory Notes on the Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/17/Add.1), 2005
• Growing the Sheltering Tree – Protection Human Rights in Humanitarian Action, Programmes and Practices Gathered from the Field Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2002
• Involuntary Resettlement World Bank Operational Policy (OP 4.12), 2001
• Guidelines for Aid Agencies on Involuntary Displacement and Resettlement in Development Projects Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 1992