Forced Evictions:Towards Solutions? First Report of the Advisory Group on Forced Evictions (AGFE) to the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT

THIS IS THE first report of the Advisory Group on Forced Evictions (AGFE) to the Executive Director of UN–Habitat. This group was established in 2004 following Resolution 19/5 on improving the lives of slum dwellers that was adopted by UN–HABITAT during its 19th Session (2003).

The Report is divided into four sections. The first provides a general introduction to the Advisory Group on Forced Evictions – its origin and establishment, its membership, the methodology and approach to combating forced evictions adopted by the group, its Terms of Reference as well as a short presentation of the event the group organized during the World Urban Forum in Barcelona in 2004. Part II reviews 15 of the eviction cases submitted to AGFE for consideration and potential action during its first year of operation. These have taken place in a range of different countries, including Thailand, Pakistan, Kenya, the USA, the UK, Uganda, Ghana, the Philippines, Indonesia, Argentina, Peru, Senegal, Greece and Brazil. The accounts summarize the essential information collected on the background motivation for eviction, the significance and impact of the eviction process as well as an analysis of the chances of positive resolution. They describe the work of mobilized communities and their support organizations, which strive to resist eviction and engage in talks with the relevant authorities about possible alternatives, in some cases with encouraging success.

In the course of studying cases and liasing with local stakeholders, AGFE selected an initial group of four key focus eviction cases: in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Curitiba (Brazil), Rome (Italy) and Accra (Ghana). Chapter 3 explains how AGFE has begun, on the invitation of the respective governments, to play a direct role in developing alternatives in these cases. It describes and reports on the results of the special missions that have already taken place for the first three cases. It also presents the human rights and eviction threats emerging from the reconstruction process in Tsunami-affected countries, in particular Sri Lanka. Chapter 4 concludes with reflections on existing and possible solutions for resolving forced evictions, the role of the different actors (organized communities, NGOs and advisory groups, local governments, the media, international solidarity networks), and the way forward to innovative approaches. The AGFE Convenor presents this chapter as a first draft for consideration and further discussion, as issues and challenges around evictions are complex and no definitive answers are readily available.