Why it matters...
One reason displacement matters in achieving peace is that in some countries the sheer scale of displacement is so significant, and accounts for such a large proportion of the national or regional population, that it is simply unrealistic to plan for a peaceful future without incorporating the needs of the displaced and ensuring their active participation.
Additionally, helping displaced populations to return and reintegrate can simultaneously address the root causes of a conflict and help prevent further displacement. Specifically, the return of displaced populations can be an important signifier of the end of conflict, repatriation can play a part in validating the post–conflict political order, the return of the displaced can be a pre–condition for peace if they are politically active, and the return of displaced populations can also make an important contribution to the recovery of local economies.
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