The armed conflict in Darfur has led to systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights law against civilian populations, contributing to a breakdown of law and order. Local communities are held captive by fear. Despite the huge scale of…
In its latest report, Sudan’s Children at a Crossroads: An Urgent Need for Protection, the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict[1] documents pervasive and continuing violations against children by all armed forces and groups operating in Sudan and urges that…
The CPA which ended the conflict between the Khartoum government and the main southern rebel group[1] paved the way for the return of those uprooted from their homes in the south. Under its provisions the last of the northern troops…
A recent report from the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service[1] challenges America’s expanding penal approach to family detention. In the wake of the attacks of 11 September 2001, Congress passed the…
“Please help us, the communists are coming.” Time Magazine’s account of the Lao government’s persecution of the Hmong rebel army is no less harrowing today than when it was published. The only catch is that ‘Welcome to the Jungle’[1] is…
Regional human rights systems have always played a significant role in emphasising the rights-based nature of international IDP protection. This has been done through reporting activities, fact-finding missions and monitoring of specific internal displacement crises. The volume of actual jurisprudence…
In May 2007 the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children[1] presented its annual Voices of Courage awards to three displaced people who have dedicated their lives to promoting economic opportunities for refugee and displaced women and youth. These are their…
Around 60% of Burma’s estimated 50 million population are ethnic Burman. The rest belong to a myriad of ethnic groups – who are generally called ‘national minorities’. While the country is administratively divided into seven divisions and seven national minority…
A decade of armed conflict has left around 200,000 people internally displaced in Nepal. According to article 8.1.11 of Nepal’s recently introduced IDP policy, all IDPs are entitled by law to vote. However, the policy does not clarify whether IDPs…
Thailand hosts some 477,000 asylum seekers and refugees; in 2006 there were 10,000 new arrivals.[1] The majority come from Burma and live in nine refugee camps along the Thai- Burma border. Urban refugees are often from Laos, Nepal and Sri…