Challenges and Opportunities in Incorporating Demographic Analyses of Displacement into Transitional Justice Processes

Armed conflict situations often involve mass displacement of civilians.
This paper reviews the measurement challenges involved in incorporating
quantitative analyses of conflict-related displacement phenomena
when characterizing the nature, magnitude and pattern of
large-scale human rights violations. We present two recent case studies,
from Timor-Leste and Kosovo, where quantitative analysis of conflict-related displacement was integrated into a truth commission's work
and statistical evidence was used by an international criminal tribunal,
respectively. In these case studies we examine how the integration
of analysis of civilian displacement phenomena strengthened our understanding of "what happened" during these two conflict. Using these two case studies, we also contextualize how conflict-related displacement and other forms of violence were employed in these particular conflict situations. We then conclude by noting useful lessons-learned from these case-studies: (i) in terms of the use of diverse data sources (that draw from both traditional demographic and non-traditional sources) and adaptation of classical demographic methods, and (ii) discussing the challenges of presenting demographic estimates and analysis on conflict-related displacement in international justice settings.