Legal Definitions - forced resettlement

Definition: Forced resettlement is the act of moving people from one place to another against their will. This can happen within a country or between countries, and can be caused by war, natural disasters, or government policies.

Examples:

• During World War II, the Japanese government forced thousands of Japanese Americans to leave their homes and live in internment camps.
• In the 1970s, the Ethiopian government forcibly resettled thousands of people from the countryside to urban areas in an attempt to modernize the country.
• In 2017, the Myanmar government forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring Bangladesh.

These examples illustrate how forced resettlement can be used as a tool of oppression by governments or as a result of conflict. It can have devastating effects on individuals and communities, including loss of property, separation from family and friends, and trauma.