Acceso usuarios
Bogumil Terminski
At least fifteen million people each year is forced to leave their homes following the consequences of development projects, such as creation of large dams, urbanization and re-urbanization, development of communication networks, mining and transportation of resources and even the conservation of nature. The problem of development-induced displacement and resettlement is currently one of the most significant factors of forced migrations. The first exstensive studies on this subject were undertaken by applied anthropologists during fifties of the XXth century, which was associated with the consequences of construction of large dams in Africa. Since at least two decades we have witnessed significant attention in this issue on the basis of public international law and human rights. The construction of chinese Three Gorges dam on the Yangtze River or Sardar Sarovar complex on the Narmada River led to enormous social and environmental consequences, and human rights violations associated with the displacement. Similar problems are also observed in several other regions of the world. The aim of this paper is an analysis of development-induced displacement as a global social problem, diverse category of internal displacement and challenge for the international institutions and public international law. The problem is strongly linked with the reflection on the mechanisms of legal protection of particularly vulnerable communities and minorities. The paper complements the studies on empowerment of indigenous communities and more sustanaible development growth conducted on the basis of development studies. In the first section I draw attention to the origins and evolution of scientific research undertaken within this problem. The aim of the next part is the analysis of causes and consequence s of such displacement. The last section on the article is focused on activities of international institutions in the regard of resettlement planning, assistance to affected people and its legal protection.
