An introductory note on FMR 50, 'Dayton + 20: twenty years on from the Dayton Agreement in the Balkans', from the Editors. Twenty years on from the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in November 1995, the consequences of conflict – including the long-term effects of displacement – are still being felt in the Western Balkans.

This issue of FMR focuses largely on the question of return. Some of those who were driven from their homes have been unable to return; others have returned but have struggled to rebuild their lives. The Agreement may have brought an end to war but its implementation has not yet put an end to human suffering and social crisis.

As one of our authors says, “Twenty years on, the return project is ready for review.” This is an appropriate moment to examine the particular cases of people who were displaced from and within Bosnia and Herzegovina as a result of the 1992-95 war, and to reflect on the ‘lessons’ that may be drawn from the successes and failures of the Dayton Peace Agreement. These lessons have resonance for current crises – such as in Syria or Ukraine – and merit attention.

This issue also includes a number of ‘general’ articles on other aspects of forced migration.

We would like to thank Selma Porobic (Centre for Refugee and IDP Studies, University of Sarajevo) and Erin Mooney (United Nations Protection Capacity/ProCap) for their assistance as advisors on the feature theme of this issue. We are also grateful to Catholic Relief Services-USCCB, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Europe for their financial support.

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