Steve Levin is a retired Army judge advocate. After serving seven years on active duty from 1992 to 1997, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in North Carolina from 1999 to 2002 and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland from 2002 to 2008. He started his own law firm, Levin & Gallagher LLC – later Levin & Curlett LLC, in 2008. In January 2019, Steve became a partner at Rosenberg Martin Greenberg LLP. In January 2023, Steve joined Steptoe & Johnson’s Investigations and White-Collar Defense practice group.
Steve’s active duty assignments included Command Judge Advocate in Korea, Trial Defense Counsel in Germany, and Government Appellate Division Counsel in the DC area. His reserve assignments included Professor in the Criminal Law Department at The Judge Advocate General’s School from 2000-2010, Military Judge 2010-2017, and Associate Judge at the Army Court of Criminal since 2017. He was recalled after 9/11 to help prepare for the trial of suspected terrorists before military commissions. Steve graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University School of Law. He received his Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College in 2016.
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.
