Introduction to the Issues, Definitions of Key Terms

The resources below (glossaries, training modules, FAQs) define specific groups of forced migrants, expand on the relevant issues and concepts, and provide a basis for developing a better understanding of the field of forced migration.

The Definition of an Internally Displaced Person? (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, Switz.): Reviews the components of the IDP definition.
Forced Evictions (Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions , Switz.): Introduces the concept of forced eviction and reviews remedies.
Glossary of Humanitarian Terms in relation to the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (United Nations, U.S.): Prepared by OCHA in 2003 as a “practical reference guide to terms often used within humanitarian situations.”
International Agreed Glossary of Basic Terms Related to Disaster Management (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Belg.): Glossary posted on CRED web site that includes definitions from the above-mentioned publication, compiled by DHA in 1992.
Involuntary Resettlement: Frequently Asked Questions (World Bank, U.S.): Introduces concept of involuntary resettlement and outlines nature of assistance provided to those affected.
Master Glossary of Terms (UNHCR, Switz.): Compilation of the terms most commonly used in UNHCR protection-related publications.
Palestinian Refugees (BADIL, Occupied Pal. Terr.): Arabic version; Provides an introduction to the Palestinian refugee issue, with an historical overview.
Protecting Refugees: Questions and Answers (UNHCR, Switz.) (Note: Most language versions that follow link to the older “Who is a Refugee?” Q&A.): Arabic version; Chinese version; Czech version; French version; German version; Japanese version; Korean version; Polish version (click on “Kim jest uchodźca”); Portuguese version; Spanish version; Swedish version; Presented in a Q&A format.
Refugee and Internally Displaced Person Flows (Moore, Will H. et al, U.S.): Research project that examines causes of flight.
Saving Lives and Livelihoods: The Fundamentals of a Livelihoods Strategy (Feinstein International Famine Center, U.S.): Presents a strategy for responding appropriately in a complex emergency, which is based on eight principles of self-sufficiency and productivity.
"What is a Complex Emergency?," OCHA Orientation Handbook on Complex Emergencies (OCHA, Switz.): Click on "Introduction" and scroll down to relevant section.
What is Forced Migration (Forced Migration Online, UK): Reviews the various types of forced migration and forced migrants considered by Forced Migration Online to fall within its scope.

Starting Points

This section lists several “all-purpose” sites that report on either different types of forced migrants or different responses to forced migration situations (i.e., humanitarian assistance, promotion of human rights, etc.). These sites tend to be updated frequently, offer a variety of resources to users, post full-text documents, and serve as reliable sources of information.

Forced Migration Online (FMO, UK): Key features include thematic/regional research guides, digital library of full-text documents, back runs of key journal issues in full-text, web catalogue with descriptions and links to web resources, and an organizations directory.
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC, Switz.): Formerly the Global IDP Project. Key features include extensive profiles of IDP situations in 50 countries, a training programme on IDP protection, thematic overviews, information resources including a Global Overview of IDP trends, maps, bi-weekly news summaries, and promotion of an IDP network.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC, Switz.): Key features include full-text of the International Review of the Red Cross, a country-by-country listing of ICRC operations, a photo gallery, and an international humanitarian law database. The site is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Portuguese.
NGO Network on the Question of Palestine (UN, U.S.): Key features include background on the Palestine issue, an NGO directory, link to the UN Information System on the Question of Palestine which makes available official documents, a calendar of events, and maps.
ReliefWeb (OCHA, Switz.): Key features include access to current information on complex emergencies and natural disasters, a directory of humanitarian organizations, a library of reference materials, funding information, training opportunities, and maps.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR, Switz.): Key features include access to the complete texts of resolutions and reports from the Commission on Human Rights, the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and the six human rights treaty bodies. Also available are human rights instruments, UNHCHR publications, and a calendar. The site is available in English, French and Spanish.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, Switz.): Key features include country profiles of refugee situations, refugee-related news, funding information, evaluation reports and analysis, statistical data, official documents of the Executive Committee, human rights reports, international instruments and case law, the full-text of the State of the World's Refugees and Refugees magazine, photos, maps. Portions of the site are also available in other languages including Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian.
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI, U.S.): Key features include country profiles, articles, and statistical data from the World Refugee Survey, selected articles from Refugee Reports, audio resources, and news.

Country Profiles/Situation Reports

This section highlights some of the resources available that provide 1) overviews of the forced migration situations in different countries around the world, and/or 2) surveys of the causes for displacement. Country information is also available through the news and reports resources listed below.

Countries & Emergencies (ReliefWeb, Switz.): Includes situation reports and press releases from refugee-assisting and humanitarian relief organizations. Organized by country and/or emergency; for each, users will find the latest situation updates, updates by sector (including “refugees and IDPs”), key documents, appeals & funding, background information, who is working in the country, a country profile, travel info., vacancies, and training opportunities; updated daily.
Country of Origin Information (UNHCR, Switz.): This database aims to support the refugee status determination process by aggregating a wide variety of human rights and country information materials from reliable sources.
European Country of Origin Information Network (ACCORD, Austria): Aggregates and provides access to over 100 sources of country and human rights reports to support the refugee status determination process. The site is bilingual (English and German).
FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System (FAO, Italy): Aggregates FAO agriculture and development information and organizes it by country. Versions in Arabic, English, Chinese, French or Spanish are available.
IDP Database (IDMC, Switz.): Includes extensive profiles of the IDP situation in 50 countries. Select country from drop-down menu or go to “Countries” section.
Refugee Conditions by Country (USCRI, U.S.): Electronic version of the annual World Refugee Survey; profiles dating from 1997 are available. Each profile includes an overview of the refugee and/or IDP situation, summary of national laws and status determination procedures, and/or description of the country of origin conditions that led to flight. Links to further USCRI information is provided when available.

Background and Overview

Introduction to the Issues, Definitions of Key Terms

Starting Points

Country Profiles/Situation Reports