This resource is a rapid literature review on lessons and promising practices from national-level experience with the development and implementation of legal and policy frameworks that seek to protect and assist internally displaced people. Findings focus on the importance of political will and capacity to implement solutions. Further, they emphasise the involvement of several stakeholders and use of methods to disseminate knowledge, expertise and norms, alongside efforts of civil society actors to highlight IDP issues and hold authorities to account.
Internally displaced persons may share needs with refugees and non-displaced citizens. Their needs may differ depending on whether they are displaced by conflict, violence, human rights abuses or disaster, whether a conflict is ongoing, whether they are living in urban or rural areas, among other factors. While the state holds responsibility, in situations such as conflict, national governments may be unable, or unwilling, to provide the necessary support to internally displaced persons. . There is overlap between international internally displaced persons instruments and national laws that may include instruments that protect internally displaced persons as citizens.
