Shifts in Displacement Dynamics in the Americas

• In Event: The Policy and Politics of Forced Migration in the Americas

Abstract

For more than fifteen years, Colombia was in the top three countries in the world with the highest total number of internally displaced persons. The conflicts in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico also left many displaced persons, many of whose statuses were never fully addressed. Then, the world shifted its focus to conflict-induced displacement in the Middle East and Africa, and to the flight of people affected by climate change and natural disasters. However, in recent years, significant and diverse forms of displacement are again taking place in the Americas. This reality is forcing the international community to reevaluate its distance from the Americas and to reengage. In this paper, I detail the various forms of displacement occurring in the Americas and the legal and political challenges these displaced persons face in gaining residency and recognition from the governments that receive them (or deny them entry). I also lay out recommendations for how the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement can best move forward to address the protection and assistance needs of the various categories of internally displaced persons throughout the region.

Author

• Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli, Washington Office on Latin America