Internally Displaced Persons

Internally displaced people (IDPs) have not crossed a border to find safety. Unlike refugees, they are on the run at home. IDPs stay within their own country and remain under the protection of its government, even if that government is the reason for their displacement. They often move to areas where it is difficult to deliver humanitarian assistance and as a result, these people are among the most vulnerable in the world.

Legal Instruments Related to Internally Displaced Persons

The "Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement", although not legally binding, are the main instrument specifically dealing with internally displaced persons (IDPs). They restate and compile human rights and humanitarian law relevant to internally displaced persons. Below is an overview of international human rights and humanitarian law standards that are applicable to IDPs.

• Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, 11 February 1998
• African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa ("Kampala Convention"), 22 October 2009 (in French)
• International Standards Relating to Internal Displacement (external link), Other Languages Available

UNHCR Policy Documents Related to Internally Displaced Persons

• Policy on UNHCR's Engagement in Situations of Internal Displacement, 18 September 2019
• Guidance Package for UNHCR's Engagement in Situations of Internal Displacement, September 2019
• Durable Solutions in Practice, September 2017
• Durable Solutions: Preliminary Operational Guide, January 2016
• Operational Guidelines for UNHCR's Engagement in Situations of Internal Displacement, UNHCR, 1 February 2016 (go to the Protection Manual internal - I.2. Policy guidance regarding IDPs)
• UNHCR's Role in Support of an Enhanced Humanitarian Response to Situations of Internal Displacement: Update on UNHCR's Leadership Role Within the Cluster Approach and IDP Operational Workplans, 25 May 2007
• The Protection of Internally Displaced Persons and the Role of UNHCR, 27 February 2007
• UNHCR's Role in IASC Humanitarian Reform Initiatives and in the Strengthening of the Inter-Agency Collaborative Response to Internally Displaced Persons Situations, 20 September 2005
• UNHCR's Operational Experience With Internally Displaced Persons, September 1994

Other Policy Documents Related to Internally Displaced Persons

• Framework on Durable Solutions for IDPs , Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), April 2010
• Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kälin : addendum : high-level conference on "Ten years of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement - achievements and future challenges" (Oslo, 16 and 17 October 2008): summary of the Conference Chair, A/HRC/10/13/Add.3, 11 February 2009
• Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kälin, United Nations Human Rights Council, A/HRC/4/38, 3 January 2007, as well as Add.1: Operational Guidelines on Human Rights and Natural Disasters, 18 October 2006
• IASC Guidance Note on Using the Cluster Approach to Strengthen Humanitarian Response, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), 24 November 2006
• UNHCR's Expanded Role in Support of the Inter-Agency Response to Internal Displacement: Report of a lessons learned and effective practices workshop, PDES/2006/06, November 2006
• Protection of and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons, United Nations General Assembly, A/61/276, 21 August 2006
• Consistent and Predictable Responses to IDPs. A Review of UNHCR's Decision-Making Processes, EPAU/2005/2, March 2005
• Implementing the Collaborative Response to Situations of Internal Displacement. Guidance for UN Humanitarian and/or Resident Coordinators and Country Teams, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), September 2004

UNHCR ExCom and Standing Committee

UNHCR has consulted with Member States, UN partners, and NGOs extensively throughout the development of the humanitarian reforms and the cluster leadership approach. Below are documents providing backgound information on UNHCR's IDP field operations and global clusters, as well as challenges facing the organisation as it assumes its leadership role.

• Real-time Evaluations of UNHCR's Involvement in Operations for Internally Displaced Persons and the Cluster Approach: Analysis of Findings, 40th Meeting of the Standing Committee, EC/58/SC/CRP.23, 29 August 2007 (in French)
• UNHCR's Role in Support of an Enhanced Humanitarian Response to Situations of Internal Displacement. Policy Framework and Implementation Strategy, 39th Meeting of the Standing Committee, EC/58/SC/CRP.18, 4 June 2007 (in French)
• UNHCR's Role in Support of an Enhanced Humanitarian Response to Situations of Internal Displacement: Update on UNHCR's Leadership Role Within the Cluster Approach and IDP Operational Workplans, Informal Consultative Meeting, 25 May 2007
• Reports on internally displaced people submitted to UNHCR's Executive Committee
• UNHCR's Expanded Role in Support of the Inter-Agency Response to Internal Displacement Situations, 36th Meeting of the Standing Committee, EC/57/SC/CRP.18, 8 June 2006
• Executive Committee Conclusion No. 75 (XLV), 1994, Internally Displaced Persons, 7 October 1994 (in French)

Documents Related to Internally Displaced Persons

• All reports relating to IDPs by all sources
• All national legislation relating to IDPs
• All reports of the UN General Assembly relating to IDPs
• All reports of the UN Human Rights Council relating to IDPs
• All reports of the UN Commission on Human Rights relating to IDPs
• Disaster displacement: How to reduce risk, address impacts and strengthen resilience, 2019 (also available in other languages)
• Protocol 1. Humanitarian System-Wide Scale-Up Activation: Definition and Procedures (IASC), 13 November 2018
• Internally Displaced Persons and International Humanitarian Law (ICRC), December 2017 (Spanish) (French)
• Standard Terms of Reference for Humanitarian Country Teams (IASC), February 2017
• Policy on Protection in Humanitarian Action (IASC), 2016
• National Instruments on Internal Displacement: A Guide to their Development, August 2013 (Spanish) (French)
• Handbook for Parliamentarians - Internal Displacement: Responsibility and Action, 2013 (French)
• Integrating Internal Displacement in Peace Processes and Agreements, 2010
• Protecting Internally Displaced Persons: A Manual for Law and Policymakers, October 2008 (French)
• Protocol on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (International Conference on the Great Lakes Region), 30 November 2006
• Protocol on the Property Rights of Returning Persons (International Conference on the Great Lakes Region), 30 November 2006
• Principles on housing and property restitution for refugees and displaced persons (ECOSOC) (available in other languages), 28 June 2005