Brookings: Experts - Roberta Cohen

Up Close and from the Tower: Two Views of Refugee and Internally Displaced Populations

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The numbers are startling. There are close to 40 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world today, uprooted by conflict and human rights violations. The problems facing the refugees and IDPs are daunting. While reviewing two books, Cohen argues that the overall problem of forced migration goes beyond humanitarian and human rights solutions, requiring multilateral action aimed at preventing and resolving the crises at the heart of displacement.

Pressing Pyongyang on Rights

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The now-defunct six-party talks in which the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Russia, and China participated focused almost exclusively on North Korea's nuclear weapons program. But, as Roberta Cohen argues, with a struggle for succession underway in Pyongyang and some of the country's internal controls reportedly beginning to erode, it's the time to rethink the near-exclusion of human rights from the U.S.-North Korean dialogue.

Raising Human Rights with North Korea

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. government's policies toward North Korea in recent years have drawn criticism for focusing primarily on denuclearization, while neglecting human rights issues, even as the country's human rights situation remains dire. Roberta Cohen says arguments against including human rights in discussions with North Korea are flawed and recommends integrating human rights as part of an overall U.S. policy toward North Korea.

Mass Displacement Caused by Conflicts and One-Sided Violence

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Massive displacement of people within and across borders has become a defining feature of the post-cold war world. It is also a major feature of human insecurity in which genocide, terrorism, egregious human rights violations and appalling human degradation wreak havoc on civilians. Though there has been a critical shift in thinking at the international level with regards to forced displacement, Cohen and Deng argue that concepts of sovereignty as responsibility and the responsibility to protect remain far ahead of international willingness and capacity to enforce them.

Human Rights in North Korea: Some Recommendations for the Obama Administration

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The North Korean human rights record is one of the most egregious in the world, yet the United States has not to date found an effective way to address the issue. Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Roberta Cohen proposes to the Obama administration the development of a strategy for integrating human rights into any future dealings with North Korea, be they multilateral or bilateral.

An Institutional Gap for Disaster IDPs

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Climate change is expected to sharply increase the number and severity of natural disasters, displacing millions on all continents. Roberta Cohen argues that the international community needs to recognize "disaster IDPs" and establish new institutional arrangements to protect their human rights.

The Responsibility to Protect: Human Rights and Humanitarian Dimensions

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Everyone would agree that international human rights standards are the foundation of the responsibility to protect (R2P). States have an obligation to protect their populations from the worst atrocities on the basis of international human rights precepts. However, it was not until the advent of R2P that the international community accepted for the first time the collective responsibility to act should states fail to protect citizens from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Disputed Territories in Iraq

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One feature of the new Iraq is the presence of disputed territories. In an interview with Peshawa Abdulkhaliq Muhammed from Kurdistani Nwe, Roberta Cohen discusses the issues surrounding the disputed territories in Iraqi Kurdistan, including Kirkuk and propects for the resolution of this dispute.

The Genesis and the Challenges of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this article, Roberta Cohen and Francis Deng explain that the need for international standards to protect and assist internally displaced persons arose directly from the explosion of civil wars in the last decade of the 20th century. These wars left tens of millions uprooted within the borders of their own countries.

Iraq's Displaced: Where to Turn?

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Refugees and internally displaced persons are hardly a new phenomenon for Iraq. Under Saddam Hussein's regime, forced displacement was a tool used to subdue recalcitrant populations and punish political opponents. Roberta Cohen says that the U.S. invasion and the toppling of Saddam Hussein, far from resolving the problem however, made it worse. The ensuing conflicts increased the number of people forced to flee their homes and a combination of national and international steps needs to be taken.

Listening to the Voices of the Displaced: Lessons Learned

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When those working with IDPs develop programs and policies without taking the time to listen to those most affected — the IDPs themselves — plans often go wrong. In order to ensure their needs not only are met but also that lasting solutions are found for their displacement, Roberta Cohen explains that it is critical to listen to the voices of IDPs.

For Disaster IDPs: An Institutional Gap

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Climate change is expected to sharply increase the number and severity of natural disasters, displacing millions on all continents. To meet this coming challenge, Roberta Cohen says that the recognition of "disaster" IDPs is needed along with new institutional arrangements to protect their human rights.

The Burma Cyclone and the Responsibility to Protect

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In 2005, the international community adopted a new concept, the responsibility to protect (R2P) but its meaning and application are still unclear. The United Nations ruled out applying it to Burma, but Roberta Cohen argues that the denial of access to cyclone survivors could well have been an R2P case. Much work needs to be done to clarify the concept and mobilize international support around its implementation.

Disaster Standards Needed in Asia

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this Brookings Northeast Asia Commentary, Nonresident Senior Fellow Roberta Cohen calls for the development of performance standards for addressing natural disasters including the cyclone in Burma, earthquake in China, and famine in North Korea. Without such standards, states and the international community may be hampered in saving lives and reconstruction efforts.

How to Feed North Korea

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hunger should know no politics, as President Ronald Reagan declared to justify food aid to Ethiopians starving under a brutal communist regime in the 1980s. Therefore South Korea's criticism of North Korea's human rights record need not prevent its providing food and fertilizer to hungry people in the North.

Integrating Human Rights in U.S. Foreign Policy: The History, the Challenges, and the Criteria for an Effective Policy

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Essential to the careers of many U.S. Foreign Service Officers, public affairs staff and officers of AID is an understanding of international human rights issues. Many if not all will be posted to countries with questionable human rights records. Therefore, the subject of integrating human rights concerns on into U.S. foreign policy decision-making, argues Brookings expert Roberta Cohen, is not just an academic exercise but a real and serious business that will involve everyone posted abroad.

'Hard Bargaining' Necessary with Sudan on Darfur Peacekeeping Force

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the UN resolution creating an international peacekeeping force for Darfur with 26,000 troops, the force has been unable to fully deploy into the region. Brookings expert Roberta Cohen discusses the difficulties surrounding the deployment with Stephanie Hanson of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Humanitarian Imperatives are Transforming Sovereignty

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the 21st Century, the humanitarian imperative of saving lives must be reconciled with the most cardinal principle of international affairs, respect for non-interference in internal affairs. The humanitarian imperative calls for immediate aid to people whose survival is threatened, whereas respect for state sovereignty can mean leaving large numbers to die should their governments refuse entry to the international community.

Darfur Debated

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Debates within the human rights and humanitarian communities have centered on the numbers who have died in Darfur, the use of the term genocide, the efficacy of military versus political solutions and the extent to which human rights advocacy can undermine humanitarian programs on the ground.

Human Rights and the North Korea Refugee Crisis

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The particular situation of North Korea, including its isolation from the rest of the world coupled with a near absence of human rights and a proclivity toward developing nuclear weapons pose challenges for policy makers, especially those addressing the North Korean refugee crisis.

Refugee Issues Relating to China

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

China's behavior in the human rights and refugee spheres over the past decades has moved forward in some positive ways, but its actions are still quite unrestrained by international norms.

Will Security Council Resolution 1769 Make a Difference in Darfur?

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Commentary by Roberta Cohen (8/9/07)

Iraq: Sectarian Violence and Solutions

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen at Georgetown University (3/21/07)

Legal Protection for the Displaced People of Darfur and Chad

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen at Harvard University's Committee on Human Rights Studies (3/15/07)

Protection of Refugee and Internally Displaced Women

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women should give special attention to the plight of the tens of millions of refugee and internally displaced women in more than 100 countries. Although some displaced women, as Cohen argues, quite remarkably show themselves to be resourceful, vibrant and receptive to new opportunities, many others are unable to, due to wide-ranging challenges from long-term camp residency, discrimination, limited health care, exposure to sexual exploitation and violence, limited education and employment opportunities.

The Global Crisis of Internal Displacement

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Clearly, the international system set up after the second world war to protect only refugees is incomplete and inadequate to the challenge of today's human rights and humanitarian emergencies. The internal conflicts that rage in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas produce far larger numbers of internally displaced persons than refugees. It is the totality of the problem that needs to be addressed.

Time for the United States to Recognize Iraq's Humanitarian Crisis

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Roberta Cohen and Ashraf al-Khalidi (1/4/07)

Assessing the Situation in Darfur

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Roberta Cohen, Radio Times (12/11/06)

Key Policy Debates in the Internal Displacement Field

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen (12/4/06)

Human Rights at Home

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government (11/01/06)

Expanded AU Force in Darfur Not a Permanent Solution

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Roberta Cohen, Council on Foreign Relations (10/10/06)

The Responsibility to Protect: The Case of Sudan

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past decade, peacekeeping forces have been increasingly called upon to play critical protection roles in humanitarian emergencies around the world. They are no longer confined to the traditional role of monitoring ceasefires between nations but are thrust into the midst of civil wars and called upon to protect civilian populations, among them IDPs.

Humanitarian Response to World Crises

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen at the Woman's National Democratic Club, 15 March 2006

I could start out my remarks tonight by saying that the international humanitarian response to emergencies is generous, multinational, reasonably quick, sometimes well coordinated, and overall responsible for saving many lives. Just consider the international response to the tsunami. There was immediate international humanitarian action combined with rapid military relief and rescue operations from a number of nations, the mobilization of $13.6 billion with a good percentage received, and a notable role by the UN in coordinating one of the largest relief operations in history. Indeed, UN officials often point out that as a result of its efforts, epidemics were averted, food assistance was delivered, most children are now back in school, and tens of thousands are employed and earning money again.

IDP Issues and the Marsh Arabs

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The Marsh Arabs suffered egregious human rights abuses under the Saddam Hussein regime, including military attacks, forced expulsions, and the destruction of homes, livelihoods, health and welfare networks. While all of Iraq needs attention, Roberta Cohen says, the region of the Marsh Arabs is a unique one, requiring specially tailored solutions.

No Quick Fix for Darfur

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

On May 5th, one of Darfur's main rebel groups signed an agreement with the government of Sudan following African Union mediation efforts backed by the U.S. and European governments. But it is questionable whether the Abuja accord will protect the people of western Sudan from genocidal acts of war by their own government and the Arab militias (the Janjaweed) it supports.

Last Stand in Sudan?

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The African Union has been struggling in Darfur to alleviate what has been called the world's "worst humanitarian disaster." Brookings expert Roberta Cohen and William G. O'Neill argue that the efforts aimed at protecting the 3.5 million people considered by the UN to be at risk--half the population of Darfur--has become a test case for African peacekeeping.

Measuring Indonesia's Response to the Tsunami

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Speech by Roberta Cohen; Woodrow Wilson Center (1/12/06)

Strengthening Protection of IDPs: The UN's Role

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The current period of UN reform offers an opportune time to strengthen the international response to situations of internal displacement and develop a more reliable and predictable international system to protect people uprooted in their own countries.

National Human Rights Institutions - Concluding Statement

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

National human rights institutions have made large strides in the past five years in working with internally displaced persons, including those displaced by conflict, natural disasters, or development projects.

UNHCR: expanding its role with IDPs

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNHCR is at a critical point in its 54-year history. Set up to protect refugees, it is now poised to take on a leading role in protecting internally displaced persons.

"Internal Refugees" Need Attention on World Refugee Day

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT

World Refugee Day is a time to remember the millions of men, women, and children who have crossed international borders to flee persecution and violence in their homelands. It is also a day to pay tribute to UNHCR, which is helping them find new lives abroad and has been championing their rights. However, as Cohen argues, World Refugee Day is also a time to acknowledge the far larger number of internally displaced persons.

The International Response to Darfur

Thu, 26 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Roberta Cohen, Forced Migration Review (May 2005)

Tsunami Envoy Clinton - Don't Forget Human Rights

Tue, 03 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT

If former President Bill Clinton, the United Nations' new Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, is to succeed in his new mission, Roberta Cohen argues that he will need to make human rights protection central to his dealings with South Asian governments.

Statement on Post-Tsunami Human Rights

Mon, 21 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen on Post-Tsuunami Human Rights (21 March 2005)

Global Effort Is Needed in Darfur

Sun, 06 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT

More than 300,000 people have died in Darfur from starvation, disease and violence during the past two years. Brookings expert Roberta Cohen asks how many more deaths will be tolerated before the international community will act.

The Tsunami Tragedy: Political, Economic, and Environmental Lessons

Tue, 25 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen on the Tsunami at Georgetown University

Statement Before the Asia Society on Internal Displacement in Burma

Tue, 16 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Statement before the Asia Society on Internal Displacement in Burma (16 November 2004)

The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement: An Innovation in International Standard Setting

Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

In the last decade of the twentieth century, an explosion of civil wars brought a pressing new problem onto the international agenda—the plight of IDPs. Because they remained within the borders of their own countries, the 1951 Refugee Convention did not apply to them. During this time, the absence of an international system for IDPs was noticed and more traditional notions of sovereignty questioned. One of the more vivid examples of this, Cohen argues, was the adoption of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

Live Internet Chat on North Korea with Roberta Cohen

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT

An opportunity exists for exploring the creation of a multilateral forum to make possible a more comprehensive approach to human rights and humanitarian issues on the Korean peninsula.

Talking Human Rights With North Korea

Sun, 29 Aug 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Roberta Cohen, Washington Post (8/29/04)

A Suggested Humanitarian and Human Rights Agenda for North Korea

Tue, 20 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Prepared by Roberta Cohen and Joel Charny

Status of Internal Displacement in Iraq

Fri, 21 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Roberta Cohen (5/21/2004)

Sudanese Killings Must be Stopped

Fri, 21 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT

What is being called the world's greatest humanitarian disaster today is occurring in Sudan, 10 years after the genocide in nearby Rwanda. Arab militias (the "Janjaweed"), backed by the Sudanese government, are carrying out deliberate mass murders, deportations, rapes, and abductions of black Africans, belonging to the Fur, Massaalit, and Zaghawa farming communities, in the western province of Darfur. Roberta Cohen argues that, as in Rwanda before, the international community still has no effective means of stopping the violence.

Some Reflections on National and International Responsibility in Situations of Internal Displacement

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) have emerged in recent years as one of the msot pressing humanitarian, human rights, political and security issues facing the global community. Had these estimated 25 million IDPs crossed a border, they would have a well-established international protection system to turn to. Instead they remain under the jurisdiction of their governments and are therefore excluded from international protection. In this paper, Cohen explores the relationship between national and international responsibility in situations of internal displacement.

Sovereignty as Responsibility: The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

Fri, 05 Dec 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Because internally displaced persons remain within their countries, they are still under the jurisdiction of their governments. Consequently, as Cohen argues, national governments have the primary responsibility for assisting and protecting IDPs.

Safety for Those Who Bring Help

Mon, 03 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Roberta Cohen, The Washington Post (11/3/03)

Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons

Fri, 10 Oct 2003 00:00:00 GMT

The United States has repeatedly urged the OSCE to address the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). However, as Cohen points out, OSCE commitments have been slow to develop wtih regard to IDPs.

A Moment of Silence for Sergio Vieira de Mello

Wed, 20 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Sergio Vieira de Mello will be remembered for the indelible mark he made on the world's most desperate, strife-torn countries.

Humanitarian and Human Rights Issues in Iraq

Mon, 09 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Roberta Cohen on Humanitarian and Human Rights Issues in Iraq, The Brookings Board of Trustees (6/9/2003)

The Role of Protection in Ending Displacement

Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Ending displacement will clearly require greater international commitment to integrating human rights and protection concerns into return processes and to making sure that organizations on the ground have th expertise, training, and resources to carry out such activities.

Clear a Path for Relief

Wed, 16 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Roberta Cohen and Michael O'Hanlon in The Baltimore Sun (April 16, 2003)

The Priority in Iraq: Forestalling a Humanitarian Crisis

Mon, 14 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT

With the Saddam Hussein regime gone, the first priority in Iraq must not be to forestall a humanitarian crisis that threatens to envelop the country in a very short time. Roberta Cohen and Michael O'Hanlon argue that the prompt restoration of law and order is the key to resolving the crisis and avoiding more dire consequences, especially with Iraq's infrastructure in a state of collapse.

The Humanitarian Situation in Iraq and its Distinctive Features

Thu, 27 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT

There are certain distinctive features in this war when one looks at the humanitarian situation as compared with other recent emergencies. For example, most of the Iraqi population, an estimated 16 million people, are completely dependent on food aid from abroad. Roberta Cohen argues that as the occupying power, the United States bears the primary responsibility for guaranteeing the safety and protection of the civilian population in Iraq.

Iraq's Displaced: A Test for Democracy

Sat, 28 Dec 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Roberta Cohen and consultant John Fawcett in the International Herald Tribune (December 28, 2002)

The Internally Displaced People of Iraq

Wed, 20 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Iraq Memo by Roberta Cohen, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, and John Fawcett, International Consultant on Humanitarian Issues, for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, November 20, 2002

Conference on Internal Displacement and Ethnic Cleansing in Iraq

Thu, 14 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT

The situation in Iraq, like most other humanitarian emergencies, has produced, and continues to produce, both internally displaced persons and refugees. Both groups, argues Roberta Cohen, need and will continue to need protection until there is a resolution of their plight.

Nowhere To Run, No Place To Hide

Fri, 01 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT

When conflicts start, some people are lucky enough or have the means to cross into another country, becoming part of the worldwide refugee population and receiving help from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. However, those who do not cross a border receive no such assistance and remain the responsibility of their national government. A government, that as Roberta Cohen points out, could be the cause of the displacement or ambivalent toward it.

Internal Displacement: Overview and Information Issues

Mon, 30 Sep 2002 00:00:00 GMT

The increased international focus on internal displacement has forced international organizations to play a more expanded role in monitoring situations of internal displacement and trying to help those uprooted.

Aid Meant for the Hungry

Thu, 16 May 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Roberta Cohen, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, in The New York Times, May 16, 2002

Recent Commentaries about the Nature and Application of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

Mon, 01 Apr 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Recent commentaries about the Nature and Application of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

The Guiding Principles: how do they support IDP response strategies?

Fri, 09 Nov 2001 00:00:00 GMT

The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement are an important tool for internally displaced persons. They are the first international standards for internally displaced persons and, as Cohen argues, they provide guidance to all actors engaged with the internally displaced.

The Guiding Principles as a Response Strategy for the Internally Displaced

Fri, 09 Nov 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction to the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

Sun, 23 Sep 2001 00:00:00 GMT

As the first international standards for internally displaced persons (IDPs), Roberta Cohen argues that the Guiding Principles identify the rights of the internally displaced and the obligations of governments toward these populations, and provide guidance to all other actors engaged with the internally displaced.

The Role of Regional Organizations in Responding to Internal Displacement and Applying the Guiding Principles

Sat, 01 Sep 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past decade, regional organizations have been devoting increased attention to the probelm of internal displacement. They have engaged in preventive measures, have monitored and reported on situations of displacement, provided humanitarian assistance and have engaged in actual protection activities on the ground. This has been with good reason as conflict and displacement rarely remain confined within borders, threatening regional stability. In this statement, Roberta Cohen, discusses the role regional organizations can play in dealing with situations of internal displacement.

Introduction to the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

Tue, 26 Jun 2001 00:00:00 GMT

The Guiding Principles identify the rights of the internally displaced and the obligations of governments toward these populations, and provide guidance to all other actors engaged with the internally displaced.

Humanitarian and Human Rights Emergencies

Fri, 01 Jun 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #85, by Roberta Cohen and James Kunder, June 2001

Exodus Within Borders: The Growing Crisis of Internal Displacement

Thu, 31 May 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Since the early 1990s with the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, the Balkans region has experienced some of the worst conflict and displacement in Europe since the Second World War, with the total number of displaced estimated at around 1 million persons. Though internal displacement in the Balkans has some unique characteristics, Roberta Cohen argues that it is important to remember the global context in crafting solutions.

Statement to the Annual Members Meeting of the International Save the Children Alliance

Thu, 03 May 2001 00:00:00 GMT

There are in today's world as many as 20 to 25 million people who are forcibly displaced within the borders of their own countries by civil wars, ethnic strife, and generalized violence. These people are called internally displaced persons (IDPs). Because the internally displaced are uprooted from their homes and separated from their communities and livelihoods, Roberta Cohen argues that they are especially vulnerable.

Masses in Flight: People under Assault in their Own Countries

Tue, 16 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT

The international human rights system set up in the 20th century was not sufficient to actually protect people under assault. Roberta Cohen points out that as the century neared its close, questions began to be asked about whether the international community should do more, about whether there should be an international responsibility to protect people at risk in their own countries from starvation, genocide, and mass murder.

Reintegrating Refugees and Internally Displaced Women

Tue, 12 Dec 2000 00:00:00 GMT

In this statement, Roberta Cohen draws attention to four issues of concern in the reintegration process for refugee and internally displaced women. The first is the continuing disparity in treatment received by returning refugee and internally displaced women. Second is the lack of security in many areas of resettlement. Third is th lack of attention to the psychological needs of displaced women. And fourth has to do with the extent to which reintegration builds upon the experiences and skills displaced women have gained during their displacement.

Statement on Migration and Internal Displacement

Mon, 25 Sep 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Though the OSCE participating states have the primary responsibility for the security, human rights and well-being of their internally displaced populations, some governments do not have the capacity to provide the needed protection and assistance, necessitating outside attention. In this statement, Roberta Cohen recommends that the OSCE better integrate the issue of internal displacement into its programs and activities.

Don't Let North Korean Softening Obscure Persistent Hunger

Wed, 06 Sep 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Don't let North Korean softening obscure persistent hunger, The Christian Science Monitor, September 6, 2000, Opinion by Roberta Cohen, foreign-policy, The Brookings Institution

Letter to the Editor: Internally Displaced

Thu, 27 Jul 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Internally Displaced, The New York Times, July 27, 2000, letter to the editor by Roberta Cohen, foreign-policy, The Brookings Institution

Statement before the World Food Programme Consultation on Humanitarian Issues

Thu, 16 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Part of the problem, according to Roberta Cohen, in responding to the crisis of internal displacement has been the seemingly simple—but actually very difficult—issue of gaining recognition by the international humanitarian, human rights, and development communities that it is an urgent issue that merits top priority.

Refugee at Home: The World of the Internally Displaced

Wed, 01 Sep 1999 00:00:00 GMT

A defining feature of the post-Cold War era is the large number of persons forcibly uprooted within their own countries as a result of civil wars, policies of "ethnic cleansing," generalized violence, and systematic violations of human rights. Roberta Cohen argues that these people are internally displaced persons and because they remain inside of their own country, suffer from the absence of a legal and institutional basis for receiving protection and assistance from the international community.

Statement on the Global Crisis of Internal Displacement

Tue, 08 Jun 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Most people in the United States are unaware of the fact that there are millions of people in the world forcibly displaced within their own countries and in need of international attention. These internally displaced people can be found on all continents and number between 20 and 25 million. However, as Roberta Cohen points out, though the number of IDPs exceeds the number of refugees, there is no effective international system to protect and assist them.

New Challenges for Refugee Policy: Internally Displaced Persons

Thu, 01 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT

When looking at uprooted populations in Africa, one finds that those who are forcibly displaced internally outnumber refugees two to one. However, because these people have not crossed a border, they have no assured source of protection and assistance like refugees, who benefit from the 1951 Refugee Convention and its guarantees. Roberta Cohen argues that this gap in the international protection system is becoming more obvious.

The Global Crisis of Internal Displacement

Wed, 11 Nov 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Forcible displacement can be found on all continents. Over all there are 20 to 25 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). Over the past decade these numbers have been climbing. However, as Roberta Cohen argues, unlike refugees who benefit from an established international protection system, IDPs have no guaranteed international protection and generally receive little or no help from their own governments.

The Forsaken People : Case Studies of the Internally Displaced

Fri, 10 Jul 1998 00:00:00 GMT

The coerced displacement of people within the borders of their own countries by armed conflicts, internal strife, and systematic violations of human rights has developed throughout various regions of the world. The companion volume to Masses in Fligh

The Development of International Strategies to Protect Internally Displaced Persons

Thu, 07 May 1998 00:00:00 GMT

In April 1998, the first international standards for internally displaced persons were introduced into the United Nations Commission on Human Rigths. Entitled Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, they were developed by a team of international lawyers under the direction of the Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons. Roberta Cohen says that as a first attempt to articlulate what protection should mean for the internally displaced, they give international and non-governmental organizations an important tool to use in their advocacy work on behalf of the displaced.

Masses in Flight : The Global Crisis of Internal Displacement

Tue, 31 Mar 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Whereas refugees crossing national borders benefit from an established system of international protection, those who are displaced internally suffer from an absence of legal or institutional bases for their protection and assistance from the internat

The Displaced Fall Through the World's Safety Net

Thu, 06 Feb 1997 00:00:00 GMT

Since the end of the Cold War, internal displacement has taken on epidemic proportions, mainly because of the proliferation of civil conflicts. Some 25 to 30 million persons worldwide are estimated currently to be internally displaced. Despite the fact that major international humanitarian, development, and human rights agencies have put internal displacement on their agendas, Roberta Cohen argues that the response has been largely ad hoc and inadequate.

Refugee and Internally Displaced Women: A Development Perspective

Wed, 01 Nov 1995 00:00:00 GMT

Between seventy-five and eighty percent of the world's 50 million refugees and internally displaced persons are women and their dependent children. They can be found in more than one hundred countries. Many have been living in camps and emergency situations for generations. In this paper, Roberta Cohen examins the actual experience of refugee and displaced women in the light of the need for their greater integration into development-oriented programs.