With a particular focus on the IDP situation in Georgia, Ben’s presentation revealed how attempts to provide adequate medium-long term IDP housing have been crucially undermined by a multi-layered series of conflicting interests that trap IDPs in a state of permanent impermanence. Rather than laying the crucial foundations that allow IDPs to rebuild their lives, housing provision has instead further contributed to IDPs’ segregation, insecurity and instability during displacement.

Ben’s research contributed to a breadth of presentations that engaged with a series of case studies from around Europe, the Middle East and the Balkans. While in Cyprus, Ben was also able to glean a brief insight into the ongoing situation of separation and conflict in the country, and specifically, in Nicosia itself.

Special thanks must go to the conference organisers, and to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Law School for providing the funds needed and for their invaluable assistance in arranging the visit.

Ben Hudson is a PhD Candidate at the University of Bristol Law School. His research, which is supervised by Professor Sir Malcolm Evans and Dr Diego Acosta Arcarazo, concerns the human rights protection of IDPs in international law, specifically an ‘IDP right to return’. Prior to beginning his PhD, Ben worked in Georgia with national NGO, CHCA, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on projects supporting the realisation of durable IDP solutions.

For further information and to see a full version of the conference presentation abstract, please contact Ben directly at ben.hudson@bristol.ac.uk.