A new report published by the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement argues that resolving displacement is inextricably linked with achieving lasting peace. This brief article summarizes the main arguments in the report and its principal recommendations.
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.
Commentary
Addressing Internal Displacement in Peace Processes, Peace Agreements, and Peacebuilding
September 30, 2007