NHRC Urges Protection of Rights in Kathmandu Squatter Evictions

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has submitted a brief report to the government based on its monitoring of squatter settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, highlighting findings and recommendations related to the human rights situation of displaced residents.

The Commission carried out the monitoring following the government’s removal of settlements that had existed for years on public land along various riverbanks in the Valley.

According to NHRC spokesperson Tikaram Pokharel, the report focuses on the impact of the evictions on the economic, social and cultural rights of the affected residents, as well as their broader human rights conditions.

The report urges the government to ensure regular access to nutritious food and medicines for vulnerable groups including pregnant women, new mothers, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and people suffering from chronic illnesses.

It also calls for the addressing of gender-sensitive concerns and recommends the relocation of culturally significant structures where necessary.

Among its key recommendations, the Commission has urged the government to identify genuine landless squatters and make immediate and appropriate arrangements for their settlement and rehabilitation.