The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Government of Nepal to refrain from any actions that place the human rights of landless squatters at risk and to respect their rights to life, liberty, equality, and dignity.
In a press release issued on July 9, the NHRC stated that it has taken serious note of the government’s actions since April 25, when landless squatters living along the Bagmati River and in other areas of Kathmandu District were evicted from their homes and relocated to temporary holding centres. According to the Commission, authorities have subsequently removed them from those holding centres as well and are preparing to evict the remaining occupants.
The Commission stated that its monitoring since the most recent eviction found that notices had been posted requiring residents to vacate the holding centres within five days. After that deadline expired, authorities reportedly granted an additional seven-day period to leave.
According to the NHRC, government authorities have issued ultimatums requiring residents to leave the holding centres without providing alternative housing, removed people from the centres, failed to ensure an adequate supply of food, and, in particular, failed to fulfil their responsibility to protect the economic, social, cultural, and civil rights of the affected communities.
The Commission stated that these actions undermine compliance with Sections 2 and 5 of the Right to Housing Act, 2018, Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1948, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,1966, Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, General Comment No. 7 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-Based Evictions and Displacement, 2007, Principle 21. As a result, the Commission said, the enjoyment of multiple rights—including the rights to adequate housing, food, education, health, and livelihood, has come under serious threat.
The press release, issued by NHRC Deputy Secretary and Assistant Spokesperson Shyambabu Kafle, further stated that the current situation has arisen because the government has failed to act on the Commission’s previous recommendations and communications. These include recommendations issued on November 28, 2009 and May 14, 2012, as well as official correspondence sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and other agencies on December 12, 2011, the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority on May 13, 2012, various government bodies on January 28, 2021and April 24, 2026, and a monitoring report with accompanying correspondence sent on May 8, 2026 to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Kathmandu District Administration Office, and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.