 Vulnerability to displacement may be heightened by discriminatory policies or practices that subject minorities to conditions calculated to cause their displacement. In situations of displacement, non-documentation becomes evident, with obvious risks to statelessness, and the denial or deprivation of citizenship for some ethnic or religious groups. Their rights as citizens are not fully recognized and they may be targeted, or not adequately protected, by national authorities. The protection of internally displaced persons, including minorities is a means of ensuring that these rights are respected.  Other factors that render certain marginalized communities vulnerable to displacement include intercommunal disturbances, interfaith tensions, and business activities and extractive industries that displace them from their lands. Under the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, development induced displacement is arbitrary and prohibited, unless if it involves large –scale development projects that are necessary and proportionately justified by overwhelming and compelling public interests.  The displacement of minorities in humanitarian situations calls for greater research and data globally to reveal the full impact of displacement on such communities, as well as regional trends, patterns and dynamics of displacement involved. In particular, this makes it necessary to disaggregate data not only by sex and age but also by diversity, such as minorities, indigenous groups, ethnicity and religion, that should be determined by contextual realities. Such information, fully adhering to international standards of data protection and use, would help to predict and prevent displacement targeted against certain communities and contribute to much needed displacement risk assessment and early warning mechanisms.

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