Internally displaced persons are "persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalised violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognised State border."

The need for international standards for the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) became apparent in the 1990s when the number of people uprooted within their own countries by armed conflict, ethnic strife and human rights abuses began to soar.

While women and children represent between 70 and 80 per cent of conflict-induced IDPs, little information exists about their specific needs. This brief overview is intended to highlight the rights and protection needs of IDP women and children, and point to additional resources.
Women    Children

Internal displacement inevitably results in people losing their homes and land, often their main source of subsistence. Access to land and shelter during displacement is critical to ensure minimum food security and self-reliance and limit dependence on humanitarian assistance.

In many conflict and post-conflict situations, internally displaced people appear to be more vulnerable to malnutrition and diseases than the non-displaced population. This brief overview is intended to highlight the rights and needs of IDPs with regard to health and nutrition, and points to additional resources.