Introduction: Framing the Problem and Approach

This chapter frames the problem, research questions, and methodology that underpin the book. Development-induced displacement (DID) is a form of internal displacement in which individuals are involuntarily removed from their homes or residences to make room for development projects. DID, which can be caused by a range of small and large-scale development projects, is one of the leading causes of internal displacement affecting millions of people each year. While these development projects carry a significant economic potential, the involuntary displacement they cause comes with a plethora of risks and consequences that often result in chronic impoverishment. These adverse consequences further interfere with and potentially violate a range of human rights, such as the right to housing, the right to property, the right to work, and the right to education. Moreover, DID and its adverse consequences often hit the hardest vulnerable and marginalized groups potentially perpetuating existing vulnerabilities and inequalities. Against this background, the current work seeks to situate DID and its adverse consequences in international human rights law. Using the human rights-based approach as a theoretical framework, it seeks to (re)frame the adverse consequences of DID as human rights issues and explore rights-based solutions to address these issues.