Examining the Innovative Framework of the United Nations Provision on Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

One of the most distressing phenomena in the Post-Cold War era is the substantial growth of people displaced within their homelands, otherwise known as Internally Displaced Persons / People (IDPs). The increase in the number of IDPs shows that many conflicts occurred even after the two greatest rivals, the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) stopped their confrontation in the end of the 1990’s. While the landscape presents both challenges to and opportunities for addressing internal displacement, the persistence of the phenomenon points to the limitations of current approaches. More importantly, the need to design a more predictable and effective international system for Internally Displaced Persons is critical because the overall international humanitarian response system is a thoroughly inequitable one. Albeit, the fastest growing category of war victims has no institutional sponsor or agreed international legal framework. Even more, the absence of United Nations agency that can be counted upon to respond automatically when there is a crisis involving internal displacement. Be as it may, specifically, this study was anchored on the regime theory. Acknowledging that, the main actors in the regime are states, who are the key players in the international system, and largely responsible for implementing its rules and procedures. Granted, in accordance with established principles of International laws, it’s first and foremost the responsibility of the governments concerned to meet the assistance and protection needs of their displaced population. In like manner, the Guiding Principles as well underscores that national authorities have the primary duty and responsibility to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction. Thus, this research solely embraced qualitative research approach and desktop method which is descriptive in nature. In essence, the study recommends that internal displacement must be integrated into existing development mechanisms, particularly national development plans and poverty reduction strategies. Reason being, failure to address long-term displacement has the potential to undermine the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).