This summer, Natalie Landau presented on the topic of displacement in armed conflict as a part of the American Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign. She is a third-year law student at the American University Washington College of Law and specializes in International Humanitarian Law as a volunteer of the American Red Cross.

As a youth writer for the South Florida Red Cross, I attended this presentation to learn more about displacement and international humanitarian law. The term displacement, as used in the presentation, refers to the relocation of massive numbers of people from their homes. It usually goes hand-in-hand with violence. In other words, displacement is present when violence or the threat of violence is apparent. It is important to know that there were more than 108.4 million people worldwide who were forcibly displaced at the end of 2022 and around 62.5 million of those people were internally displaced. Natalie emphasizes that these statistics are a general guide because many displaced people live out of sight and are not accounted for. Overall, these numbers highlight the severity of the issue and encourage a call to action to lower the amount of displacement worldwide.

In the presentation, it was shared that one of the leading causes of forced displacement in armed conflict is violations of international humanitarian law and fundamental human rights. In fact, there are various violations that can occur, including unlawful use of weapons, destruction of civilian infrastructure, direct attacks on civilians, and many more. These violations can lead to displacement and result in variegated consequences, including physical violence, malnutrition, loss of financial stability, psychological damage, strain on local resources, food shortages, and many more. These consequences highlight the heavy impact of displacement on the well-being of people and their economy.

As discussed in the presentation, one significant way to combat displacement is to ensure that international humanitarian law is not violated. For reference, international humanitarian law is a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It serves to protect those not partaking in hostilities and aids in limiting the methods of warfare. In particular, Natalie referenced specific Articles in the presentation that directly connect to displacement and the status of refugees. In addition, she emphasized the importance of guiding principles on internal displacement and how they hold substantial authority regarding international humanitarian law, though not legally binding.

After discussing much of the legal framework, Natalie explained various terminology related to displacement and international humanitarian law to ensure attendees understood the differences between the terms and the situations they would apply in. These terms included refugee, asylum seeker, IDP (internally displaced persons), and migrant. A distinct difference between these terms had to deal with criteria and the reasoning for relocation. This led to the conversation of understanding status and how it is critical to note whether specific protections are given or not based on status. In other words, specific criteria must be met and pertain to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for age, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. If not within the criteria, individuals seeking asylum can appeal the decision or acquire temporary protection.

Additionally, Natalie discussed the International Committee of the Red Cross initiatives and other organizations that aim to provide essential services in categories such as psychology, finance, food, water, burials, and reunification of families. These organizations work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of displaced persons are met. Natalie shared the story of Saleh, who was displaced in Nigeria and was able to gain protection through humanitarian organizations. Saleh received a business grant through the International Committee of Red Cross, enabling him to support his family. This shows the impact that humanitarian organizations can have on the lives of displaced people.

The International Humanitarian Law sector of the American Red Cross has several professional training courses and many upcoming trainings. For ways to participate in these trainings and learn more about international humanitarian law, please visit https://www.redcross.org/humanityinwar.html

Written By Sarai Logan, American Red Cross Public Affairs