The Adequacy of Law and Policy Frameworks on Internal Displacement in Ethiopia: A Critical Appraisal

Abstract

With three million displaced people over the last couple of years, Ethiopia has one of the highest populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Large number of people are forced to flee their homes within the country due to conflict. The aim of this chapter is to doctrinally examine the adequacy of existing legal and policy frameworks concerning IDPs in Ethiopia. This chapter examines whether the existing national frameworks adequately protects IDPs, and if not, what gaps exist. This chapter argues that while existing domestic legal and policy frameworks contain elements relevant to protection of IDPs, they are not comprehensive and do not comprehensively respond to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of IDPs. This chapter makes the point that the absence of an adequate domestic legal and policy framework for protection of IDPs underlines the importance of domesticating the Kampala Convention.