Protection During Migration, Forced Displacement, and Flight

Abstract This chapter discusses the law on liberty of movement in one's own country, migrants, internally displaced persons, and refugees. Migration, forced displacement, and flight have been part of the human experience from the earliest times. From a human rights perspective, people displaced within their own country (called internally displaced persons) and refugees require special protection because they have been deprived of the protection and security normally enjoyed by people who can remain in their homes. Thus, they have specific needs that non-displaced persons do not possess. Even if people move for predominantly voluntary reasons, they might become particularly vulnerable as migrants.