University of Essex

LW807-7-SP-CO:
Acute Crises and Displacement

The details

Year: 2025/26

Department: Essex Law School

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Postgraduate: Level 7

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 12 January 2026

End date: Friday 20 March 2026

Credits: 15

Last updated: 19 October 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 and its 1967 Protocol have focused on individual applications for refugee status where there is an established judicial or administrative process in place to make individual determinations.

Most displaced persons in the world do not fall within that model. They are part of a mass displacement that may or may not cross an international border with important consequences for the legal framework of protection. This course will look at the protection offered by international law to those displaced at a time of acute crisis.

Module aims

This module focuses on the response of international law to forcible mass displacement in time of acute crisis having explained the individual protection of refugees.

Students will gain an understanding of the mandates of the principal international actors with respect to protecting those displaced internally or across borders.

Special attention will be devoted to the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees within and beyond the framework of the 1950 mandate.

Module learning outcomes

1. Students will gain an understanding of the nature of international law pertinent to the protection of displaced persons in time of acute crisis.
2. Students will learn about the various international organisations tasked with international protection and how they interact inter se and with states.
3. Students are encouraged to develop analytical and critical skills relating to the protection of refugees and other displaced persons in international law.
4. Students will learn how to apply various different sub-disciplines of international law simultaneously and to draw on different implementation mechanisms in parallel.
5. Students are provided with a solid foundation for the further study and research of more specialist areas of international law pertinent to forced displacement.

Module information

Indicative Syllabus:

Seminar 1 – Refugee Law: What it is and What it's not
Seminar 2 - Root Conditions for Mass Displacement
Seminar 3 - UNHCR's Mandate; other UN actors; ICRC and displaced persons; State Responsibility
Seminar 4 - Internally Displaced Persons
Seminar 5 - The Expansion of UNHCR's mandate - General (including Article 35 and treaty monitoring)
Seminar 6 - Armed conflict and displacement; Responsibility to Protect and displaced persons
Seminar 7 - UNHCR's Expansion of Mandate in practice
Seminar 8 - Mass displacement due to natural disaster (Tsunamis, Pakistan Earthquake)
Seminar 9 – What should UNHCR do/ not do?

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be taught via weekly 2-hour seminars. The module teaching team will upload all relevant teaching materials on Moodle. You will find reading lists, the textbook, weekly handouts or PPS notes on Moodle. The materials in question are designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the seminars and to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your seminars.

Bibliography*

Goodwin-Gill, G.S. and McAdam, J. (2021b) Refugee in International Law. 4th Revised edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=3020516.
‘The State of the World’s Refugees 2006 - Human displacement in the new millennium - Chapter 1: Current dynamics of displacement’ (2006). United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/4444afc50.html.
World Bank (2017) Forcibly Displaced. World Bank Publications. Available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/25016.
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2 (1998) (no date a). Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/GuidingPrinciplesonInternalDisplacement.htm.
Geneva Convention, 1949 - Article 3 (no date). Available at: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gci-1949/article-3.
Additional Protocol (I) to the Geneva Conventions, 1977 (no date). Available at: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/api-1977?activeTab=1949GCs-APs-and-commentaries.
Additional Protocol (II) to the Geneva Conventions, 1977 (no date). Available at: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/apii-1977?activeTab=1949GCs-APs-and-commentaries.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, G.A. res. 2200A (XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171, entered into force Mar. 23, 1976. (no date). Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/b3ccpr.htm.
Convention on the Rights of the Child, G.A. res. 44/25, annex, 44 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 167, U.N. Doc. A/44/49 (1989), entered into force Sept. 2 1990. (no date). Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/k2crc.htm.
Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1950). UN General Assembly. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/topic,50ffbce576f,50ffbce579f,3ae6b3628,0,,,.html.
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Part II - Global compact on refugees (no date). United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/uk/excom/unhcrannual/5ba3a5d44/report-united-nations-high-commissioner-refugees-part-ii-global-compact.html.
Charter of the United Nations, June 26, 1945, 59 Stat. 1031, T.S. 993, 3 Bevans 1153, entered into force Oct. 24, 1945. (no date a). University of Minnesota. Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/aunchart.htm.
‘Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations’ (1970b). UN General Assembly. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3dda1f104.html.
Charter of the United Nations, June 26, 1945, 59 Stat. 1031, T.S. 993, 3 Bevans 1153, entered into force Oct. 24, 1945. (no date c). University of Minnesota. Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/auncharter.html.
Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations Case, Advisory Opinion, 1949 ICJ Rep. p.174; 18 ILR 318 (1949). International Court of Justice. Available at: https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/4.
Notes on International Protection (no date). Refworld. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/search?keywords=Notes+on+International+Protection&items_per_page=10&sort=score&order=desc.
Anonymous (1997) ‘The UNHCR Note on International Protection You Won’t See’, International Journal of Refugee Law, 9(2), pp. 267–273. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/9.2.267.
Lavoyer, J.-P. (no date) ‘Refugees and internally displaced persons: International humanitarian law and the role of the ICRC’, International Review of the Red Cross [Preprint], (305). Available at: https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/refugees-and-internally-displaced-persons-international-humanitarian-law-and-role-icrc.
Krill, F. (2001) ‘The ICRC’s policy on refugees and internally displaced civilians’, International Review of the Red Cross, 83(843), pp. 607–628. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1560775500119224.
Guterres, A. (2012) ‘Forced displacement and the role of the ICRC: perspectives for the twenty-first century’, International Review of the Red Cross [Preprint], (888). Available at: https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/forced-displacement-and-role-icrc-perspectives-twenty-first-century.
Marks, S. (2011) ‘Human Rights and Root Causes’, The Modern Law Review, 74(1), pp. 57–78. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2230.2010.00836.x.
O’Neill, O. (1987) ‘Rights to Compensation’, Social Philosophy and Policy, 5(1), pp. 72–87. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265052500001254.
GARRY, H.R. (1998) ‘The Right to Compensation and Refugee Flows: A “Preventative Mechanism” in International Law?’, International Journal of Refugee Law, 10(1–2), pp. 97–117. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/10.1-2.97.
‘International Journal of Refugee Law’ (1995), 7(Special Issue). Available at: https://academic.oup.com/ijrl/issue/7/Special_Issue.
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (no date). Available at: https://www.osce.org/hcnm.
Mahoney, K. (ed.) (1992) Human Rights in the Twenty-First Century:A Global Challenge. Dordrecht: Springer.
Post-Cotonou Agreement (no date). European Council of the European Union. Available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/cotonou-agreement/.
Apostolis Fotiadis, Niamh Ní Bhriain (no date) ‘Smoking Guns’. Amsterdam: Transnational Institute. Available at: https://www.tni.org/en/publication/smoking-guns.
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2 (1998) (no date b). University of Minnesota. Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/GuidingPrinciplesonInternalDisplacement.htm.
‘African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention)’ (no date). The UN Refugee Agency. Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/uk/media/african-union-convention-protection-and-assistance-internally-displaced-persons-africa.
Internally Displaced Persons (no date). The UN Refugee Agency. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/idps.html.
Global Protection Cluster (no date). Available at: https://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/.
Plender, R. (1994) ‘The Legal Basis of International Jurisdiction to Act with Regard to the Internally Displaced’, International Journal of Refugee Law, 6(3), pp. 345–361. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/6.3.345.
Operational Review of UNHCR’s Engagement in Situations of Internal Displacement (no date). Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/protection/idps/5a02d6887/operational-review-unhcrs-engagement-situations-internal-displacement.html.
IDMC (no date). Available at: https://www.internal-displacement.org/.
Mooney, E. (2005) ‘The Concept of Internal Displacement and the Case for Internally Displaced Persons as a Category of Concern’, Refugee Survey Quarterly, 24(3), pp. 9–26. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/rsq/hdi049.
Schrepfer, N. (2018) ‘Protection in Practice: Protecting IDPs in Today’s Armed Conflicts’, International Journal of Refugee Law, 30(2), pp. 292–306. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/eey033.
Feller, E., Turk, V. and Nicholson, F. (eds) (2003) Refugee Protection in International Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://www-cambridge-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/core/product/identifier/9780511493973/type/BOOK.
Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, G.A. res. 428 (V), annex, 5 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 20) at 46, U.N. Doc. A/1775 (1950). (no date). University of Minnesota. Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/v3sunhcr.htm.
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 189 U.N.T.S. 150, entered into force April 22, 1954. (no date). University of Minnesota. Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/v1crs.htm.
Charter of the United Nations (no date). International Court of Justice. Available at: https://www.icj-cij.org/en/charter-of-the-united-nations#Chapter14.
Statute of the International Court of Justice (no date). International Court of Justice. Available at: https://www.icj-cij.org/en/statute.
MORRIS, N. (1997) ‘Protection Dilemmas and UNHCR’s Response: A Personal View from within UNHCR’, International Journal of Refugee Law, 9(3), pp. 492–499. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/9.3.492.
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Part II - Global compact on refugees (2018). Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/uk/excom/unhcrannual/5ba3a5d44/report-united-nations-high-commissioner-refugees-part-ii-global-compact.html.
Roberts, A. (1996) Humanitarian Action in War, The Adelphi Papers, pp. 7–88.
The Responsibility to Protect: Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, 2001 (2001). Global Centre for the Responsibility of the Protect. Available at: https://www.globalr2p.org/resources/the-responsibility-to-protect-report-of-the-international-commission-on-intervention-and-state-sovereignty-2001/.
‘Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 September 2005’ (2005). Available at: https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=A%2FRES%2F60%2F1&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop&LangRequested=False.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Prof Geoff Gilbert, email: g.gilbert@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff:

Contact details: Law Education Office, pgtlawqueries@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Prof Konstantinos Kritsiotis

Institution: University of Nottingham

Academic role: Professor

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording:* Of 4 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
4 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Essex Law School

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

LW807-7-SP-CO:Acute Crises and Displacement