Call for Papers

May cover the following topics:

• Revisiting the global agenda on displacement and migration (the Global Compacts and the New Urban Agenda) and how they intertwine with other relevant global agendas (Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework, Nansen Initiative, etc.)
• Global agreements, regional approaches, and national and local implementation, city networks, and city diplomacy
• International refugee regime, neo-colonialism, connection between origin-transit-destination
• Displaced persons, migrants, and refugee receptions in the Global South
• Displaced persons, migrants, refugee protection mechanisms, legal pluralism, universal vs relative norms; common law vs traditional law in relation to forced displacement;
• Non-signatory countries to the 1951 Refugee Convention and shared responsibilities
• Emerging topics: economic/environment/climate-induced refugees, irregular migrants, and internal displacement due to neoliberalism, globalization, heightened securitization, and border externalization.
• Inclusion of refugees’ voices

Presentations may cover the following topics:

• Risk mitigation and durable solutions for multilayered causes of urban displacement: human-induced disasters, environmental and climate change, social/political situations leading to protracted conflicts, impact of large infrastructure and development projects, gendered identity, health, disease, and the pandemic;
• Cities’ readiness to deal with urban displacement: basic infrastructure and service provision for displaced populations, accommodation and integration. The topic includes but is not limited to: from camps to urban; spatial planning for future displacement; undocumented migrants as urban workforces in Asian cities; Indigenous peoples, the city and forced migration;
• De facto integration through social, economic, and cultural interactions; livelihoods of refugees in non-signatory countries; and Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) in protracted situations;
• Collaboration between host society with refugees/ displaced people;
• Multifaceted transformation in cities, gentrification, and urban informalities;
• Rights to the City for forced migrants and refugees in competition with existing urban dwellers;
• Access to higher education for displaced communities in urban settings;
• Long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban displaced populations; access to healthcare system;
• The social fabrics of urban displacement, community development, identity building;
• Cultural induced displacement;
• Urban displacement and multiple vulnerabilities: women, children, elderly, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+;
• Climate displacement in Pacific nations, 20+ years after the Aceh Tsunami and its impact on disaster management and urban displacement.

Presentations may cover the following topics:

• Interconnectedness of international organizations, government, and civil society groups;
• Research approaches and methodologies on urban displacement; co-designing with vulnerable populations; evidence-based policy recommendations;
• Private sector; private foundations; charities; high net worth individuals and youth influencers;
• Self-reliance efforts from the perspective of displaced populations;
• Arts as a medium for participation and advocacy;
• Innovative approaches, programs or activities in responding to urban displacement;
• Innovative funding for current and future displacement;
• Preparing displaced youth for the future of work (formal education, informal training, alternative schooling, entrepreneurship);
• Disruptive technology and urban displacement (spatial data and visualization, use of geotagging technology, dating apps and social media).

Presentations will focus on regional approaches and urban displacement in the Asia Pacific. It will cover discussions on the following topics:

• Bali process, ASEAN, SAARC, Pacific Island Forums, and other multilateral cooperation in the region;
• Rohingya displacement;
• Refugee-led movements and advocacy to obtain the right to the city.