On the Edge of Hope: Internally Displaced Peoples and Urban Humanitarianism

Although the United Nations and other multilateral treaties have established a chain of protocols to address the issues of refugee flows and the rights of refugees, states have increasingly become wary of the impacts of... [ view full abstract ]

Although the United Nations and other multilateral treaties have established a chain of protocols to address the issues of refugee flows and the rights of refugees, states have increasingly become wary of the impacts of international migration policies on domestic policies. States have tightened their borders and created multilateral organizations of their own to bypass previously signed commitments to refugees. Those persecuted by violence find it harder to flee and instead vote to seek refuge in urban centers within the borders of their nations. Even when cities may provisionally relieve the plight of displacement, urban IDPs find it hard to access the formal economy and must face structural, personal, and gender and race based challenges. States must adopt greater legal measures to grant IDPs institutional rights and access to greater opportunities for the improvement of their livelihoods.