The Impact of Armed Conflict and Displacement on Land Rights in Kachin State

Kachin internally displaced peoples (IDPs) have resided in IDP camps for over five years now due to displacement from armed conflict in northern Myanmar (Kachin and North Shan States). IDPs remain hopeful of an end to the armed conflicts and to safely return home under the new Myanmar government leadership. However, in addition to continued armed conflict, serious hurdles remain for Kachin IDPs to return home and restart their livelihoods. The protection of land and resource use rights is fundamental to IDPs successful return and rehabilitation of livelihoods, and to mitigate potential land- and resource-related use conflicts. The empirical field research presented in this report gives detailed data and analysis on the current situation related to IDP land and resource use rights and tenure security in Kachin State. In addition to a helpful overview, recommendations based on the empirical findings are presented to assist international humanitarian organisations, civil society organisations (CSOs), the donor community, and government and non-state armed group (NSAG) agencies to put land rights security at the centre of IDP return policies and programmes.