Kaldor Centre Unsw

A presentation by Professor Geoff Gilbert, University of Essex 31 August 2016 Last year, roughly 24 people were displaced each minute. Yet, the average length of time spent as a displaced person is now 20 years. These stark facts highlight the need to rethink the nature of solutions to displacement, beyond the traditional three durable solutions of voluntary repatriation, resettlement and local integration. In this presentation, Professor Geoff Gilbert argues that the UN’s responses to refugees must be reconsidered. He suggests that solutions to displacement should be seen as a process, and that the UN should move away from the traditional dichotomies of ‘protection versus solutions’ and ‘humanitarian versus development’ assistance. Professor Gilbert considers whether the UN’s Rule of Law approach might provide the basis for greater ‘interoperability’ (coordinated interaction) between the various UN agencies, thus achieving more effective solutions to displacement.