Mr. Roy Gutman is the author of Banana Diplomacy, The Making of American Policy in Nicaragua; A Witness to Genocide (the inside account of the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia); co editor of Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know; and author of How We Missed the Story, Osama Bin Laden, The Taliban, and the Hijacking of Afghanistan.
Roy Gutman was named President and CEO of the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs in March 2022, succeeding Dr. Frank Burd, the council’s founder. Mr. Gutman’s career as a foreign affairs reporter and editor took him to Germany, Britain, the former Yugoslavia, Europe at the end of the Cold War, and more recently in Iraq and Turkey. He is the author of Banana Diplomacy, The Making of American Policy in Nicaragua; A Witness to Genocide (the inside account of the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia); co-editor of Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know; and author of How We Missed the Story, Osama Bin Laden, The Taliban, and the Hijacking of Afghanistan. His reporting on “Ethnic Cleansing” in Bosnia-Herzegovina won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting and other awards. Designated one of “50 visionaries who are changing your world” by the Utne Reader, he was named an honorary citizen of Bosnia-Herzegovina and awarded a key to the city of Sarajevo, April 2010. The is the recipient of the Arthur Ross prize of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Frances Shattuck Security and Peace Award of the International Law Committee of the American Bar Association.
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.
