Refugee and IDP Committee

This is a new committee, which has morphed from the Uganda committee last year and still contains some elements of it. The new committee will focus on all maters relating to Refugees, Internally Displaced People (IDPs), forced migration, Resettlement and Repatriation. We will also educate and act as it pertains to related areas of reconciliation, reintegration of combatants and victims into society, various forms of transitional justice and general issues pertaining to post-conflict situations.

Despite there being nearly 37 million refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs, much of the local community remains unaware of the giant problem facing post-conflict countries. Where do these refugees go? How can they return to their home countries where so much has happened to them? How do they reconcile and forgive their former enemies? Should they? By learning about the issues facing refugees we hope to explore some of these questions while better informing the community about the international community in general.

Special focus will be paid to the “forgotten” conflicts and the “forgotten” refugees. Refugees from Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Bhutan all deserve equal access to opportunities and equal access to aid from the foreign community.

As for last year, the Uganda committee raised awareness and promoted action in regards to the civil war occurring in Uganda. For over 20 years Joseph Kony had been terrorizing the northern territory of Uganda by abducting children for his army, raping women and girls and brutally killing or mutilating those living in the area. It appears that the govenment may also have been involved in committing atrocities, to its own gain.

The committee spent the first semester of the 2005/2006 school year educating itslef onthe conflict, while the second semster entailed letter writitng campaings, hosting the filmmakers of "Invisible Children," speaking to highschool classes about this issue, and participating in the Global Night Commute in April, 2006

Most recently, we have been screening movies relating to various conflicts such as those in Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea, Afghanistan, and Nepal. In addition, we have brought speakers to campus to discuss their field expierences and ways for students to become involved. We are currently in the process of conducting a fundraising campaing for Mapendo and the SPARKS Kabul School.

If this committee is of interest, please come to the General Meetings or contact Adam Levy.