Forced Migration Online: A world of information on human displacement

A comprehensive electronic information system for refugee and forced migration studies is currently being developed by the Refugee Studies Centre (RSC), University of Oxford, in collaboration with a number of partner institutions. Forced Migration Online (FMO) will provide instant access to a wide variety of online resources concerning the situation of forced migrants worldwide.

Designed for use by practitioners, researchers, policy makers, students, the media or anyone interested in the field, FMO aims to give comprehensive, impartial information and to promote increased international awareness of human displacement issues. FMO defines forced migration broadly, encompassing displacement as a result of disasters, development initiatives and environmental factors, as well as conflict (refugees and internally displaced people).

The resources available on FMO will include:

• A digital library of full text documents and journal articles which can be read online, searched and printed as required
• A searchable catalogue with descriptions of relevant resources in the field of forced migration and links to those resources
• A search facility allowing simultaneous searching of websites, library catalogues, online databases and other electronic resources
• A browse facility which will allow users to access thematically-grouped sets of resources
• Thematic (including nutrition) and country/population-specific guides to conducting research on forced migration issues with pointers to further information available on the web
• A comprehensive database of key organisations in the field
• A news feed with regularly updated highlights
• Visual and audio-visual materials such as maps, photographic images and videos
• Full back runs of academic journals in the field, such as International Migration Review and Disasters
• Online teaching resources

FMO will be available online from 21 November 2002 at www.forcedmigration.org.

For further information, please contact the FMO team at: Refugee Studies Centre, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford, 21 St. Giles, Oxford, UK. tel: +44 (0)1865 270261. email: fmo@qeh.ox.ac.uk.Web: www.forcedmigration.org