Deborah Kielty is a President and CEO Emeritus of the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI). She joined the WTCI, the largest international business network in the mid-Atlantic region, as President and Executive Director in 2001. Prior to WTCI, Ms. Kielty had a 20-year global business career with Procter & Gamble. She had various high rank positions at P&G, which took her travelling to over 50+ countries, making her experience truly global. She is the current Board Chair of the P&G Alumni Foundation with a global network of over 25,000 alums. Ms. Kielty also serves on the Board of Advisors for Baltimore Outreach Services, which assists homeless women and children. In the past, she has been on the board of various organizations including: President of Families with Children from China, Advisory Board Director for Jhpiego, trustee for Baltimore’s Council on Foreign Affairs, vice chair of the P&G Alumni Network, and appointments to the Maryland Governor’s Subcabinet for International Affairs and the University of Maryland Center for International Business Education and Research.
Ms. Kielty holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is the proud mother of two daughters.
Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!
At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.
The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.
Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.
It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.
