Kathmandu: Amnesty International (AI) has released a report titled “Nowhere to go: Forced evictions in Nepal,” presenting findings on forced evictions in Nepal from 2020 to 2024.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the report emphasizes the significant impact on marginalized communities, such as Dalits and Indigenous Peoples, who are disproportionately affected by these evictions. The report also notes the authorities’ failure to uphold legal safeguards and address regulatory gaps in implementing provisions of the Constitution and the 2018 Right to Housing Act designed to prevent forced eviction.
Nirajan Thapaliya, Director at Amnesty International Nepal, stated that there is a growing disparity between the legal protections promised in Nepal’s constitution and the actual experiences of marginalized communities. These communities live in constant fear of eviction without due process, compensation, or consideration of their circumstances. The report highlights emblematic eviction cases from various regions, including Kathmandu, Siraha, Sunsari, Jhapa, and Kailali, revealing diverse eviction scenarios resulting from development projects and conservation efforts.
The report criticizes the government’s failure to protect vulnerable groups such as older people, children, and persons with disabilities. Additionally, it points out the lack of engagement with affected communities for consultations and inadequate notice before evictions, contrary to the requirements of Nepal’s Right to Housing Act and international human rights standards. Thapaliya urged Nepali authorities to uphold the right to adequate housing, end forced evictions, and ensure due process when evictions are necessary. Without coordinated action, the cycle of forced evictions and human rights violations will continue.
The research draws on field investigations from 2024 and includes documentation by AI Nepal and its partner civil society organizations. The report details five eviction cases, including Kusum Khola, Madi Municipality of Chitwan district; Chaukidanda, Ghodaghodi Municipality, Kailali district; and others in Kathmandu and Kailali. The research involved focus group discussions, interviews with officials, and recommendations to various levels of government and institutions in Nepal.