National Human Rights Commission Draws Attention to Eviction of Squatters from Holding Centers

Kathmandu. The National Human Rights Commission has expressed serious concern over the issue of squatters removed from areas including the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu district being evicted from holding centers as well. The Commission has directed the Government of Nepal to respect the life, liberty, equality, and dignity of the squatters.

The government had removed the houses and shelters of squatters living on the banks of the Bagmati and other areas from April 24, 2083 (Bikram Sambat) and kept them in various holding centers. During the Commission's monitoring, it was found that notices were posted to vacate these centers within 5 days, and later an additional 7-day period was set.

The Commission stated that actions such as giving ultimatums to vacate holding centers without any alternative arrangements, evicting them from the centers, and not providing adequate food arrangements are being carried out by the state's executive bodies. Due to the lack of guardianship by government bodies towards the economic, social, cultural, and civil rights of squatters, their multidimensional rights such as housing, food, education, health, and livelihood have faced a serious crisis.

It is mentioned in the Commission's statement that such actions have not complied with the Act Relating to the Right to Housing of Squatters, 2075 (2018), Sections 2 and 5, Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, and Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, among other international conventions and directives.

The Commission had previously recommended in 2066 (2009) and 2069 (2012) to manage squatters only after making alternative arrangements. Similarly, correspondence had been sent to government bodies including the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority multiple times. Most recently, on May 8, 2083 (Bikram Sambat), correspondence was sent with the monitoring report to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the District Administration Office Kathmandu, and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The Commission believes that the current dire situation has arisen due to the lack of response to those recommendations and correspondences. A statement issued by Deputy Secretary and Assistant Spokesperson Shyamlal Kafle has cautioned the government against taking any action that would jeopardize the human rights situation of the squatters.