3. Human Rights


The United Nations Commentary on Forced Evictions and Human Rights, begins with this:

‘On the first day they came, they spoke to us of progress....
they measured our lands,
and we said nothing....
On the second day they came, they invaded our houses....
and we said nothing....
And because we said nothing,
we will never be able to do anything.
Are we going to let this happen again ? ’


‘ Forced Evictions and Human Rights’ The centre for Human Rights
(UN publication, ISSN 1014-5567, Geneva 1991)

It continues:

Security of Tenure - A Legal Entitlement

‘General Comment No. 4, 1991 of the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights on the Right to Adequate Housing clearly places Security of Tenure in the category of Legal Entitlements, arising under the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.’
(UN publication, as above, p.20)


Requirement for Compensation

‘Few Governments will openly defend the legitimacy of an eviction without any form of compensation’
(UN publication, as above, p.29)


Legal protection against harassment and other threats

‘Notwithstanding the type of tenure, all persons should possess a degree of security of tenure which guarantees legal protection against forced eviction, harassment and other threats. States parties should consequently take immediate measures aimed at conferring legal security of tenure upon those persons and households currently lacking such protection, in genuine consultation with affected persons and groups’
(UN publication, as above, p.36)