This certificate course introduces learners to the international system for the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Since the 1990s, internal displacement has emerged as an issue of concern to the international community. While the primary responsibility to protect and assist IDPs rests with states, the international community has assumed a role in monitoring implementation of their obligations and assisting states and protecting IDPs to the extent that states are not willing or able to do so. In recent years, the focus of IDP protection has expanded beyond conflict-related displacement to also cover disaster- related and, still to a lesser extent, development-related displacement.
This e-learning course is designed to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the legal and institutional framework to protect and assist IDPs. It will look at relevant national, regional and U.N. actors and key challenges such as the quest to provide IDPs with durable solutions and the impact of climate change on displacement. The course is based on a dynamic pedagogy including reading materials, audiovisual materials, and interactive webinars given by UN officials who have worked on internal displacement.
- Professor: Graham Fox
- Professor: Jan Hessbruegge
- Professor: Natacha John