Title of Event:

Name of Organisation:

Date and time of the session:

Fighting Forced Evictions-Two years of efforts of the UN Advisory Group of Forced Evictions and its partners

UN-HABITAT and the Advisory Group on Forced Evictions

Monday 19 June 2006 at 16.30pm - 18.30 pm

Key Highlights

1. Estimated no of participants: About 175 participants
2. Stakeholder group representation at the event: Slum Dwellers Organisations, Mayors, Housing Rights NGO's, Government, academia
3. What were the expected objectives: The main purpose of the networking event was to review and take stock of the global situation of forced evictions in the last decade, in order to highlight the plight of the victims, and the challenges faced by community organisation, support NGO's and AGFE in finding alternative solutions to the problem, and secondly to review and share the experience of the efforts of AGFE and its partners to provide solutions in the two years of its existence.
4. What did the networking event achieve: The event created increased awareness on issue of evictions world wide. The presentation on a decade of evictions highlighted how serious the problem is. It highlighted the fact that if nothing is done about the practice it will seriously undermine the achievement of the MDG Slum target. The event also succeeded in bringing together different players from civil society, government, slum dwellers organisations all over to share their experiences. Experiences were shared from Peru, Sao Paola, Zimbabwe, Dakar, Rome, Indonesia and may more places. A presentation from a participant from the US demonstrated that the problem of forced evictions is not confined to the south. Positive alternates and strategies were also shared particularly the resolution of an impending eviction case in Old Fadama in Accra Ghana.

2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII? This event was organised under the theme of Achieving the MDG: Slum Upgrading and Affordable Housing. The core issues identified are as follows

• Evictions are running counter to the achievement of the slum target.
• Forced Evictions have now become a domination measure in city development
• Alternatives to development induced evictions must be provided.
• Cost of relocation versus cost of community assets.
• Legality of forced evictions.
• Prevention of slum formation

3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion? The main point raised was as follows:

. The presenter on the topic -A decade of Forced evictions pointed out that support should be provided for strategies for development in urban settlements and that it cost money to evict people.

• A presenter from Indonesia remarked that city planning in Indonesia is becoming class based led by capitalist interest and that the urban poor as seen as a burden and a liability.
• A presenter from the north pointed out that it was a shame so see people living in poor conditions amongst plenty. It was also stressed that it is important for the urban poor to be united to fight issue of forced eviction and to look at the issue on a positive manner
• Legality of forced evictions being sanctioned by courts was raised by a few panellists. There was a call to look at forced evictions within the context of Comment 7 of the Covenant of Economic, Culture and Social Rights.
• The impact of legal decision must be reviewed.
• The issue of providing alternative to development induced evictions was also raised. It was stressed that the livelihoods of evictees must be taken into consideration.
• One speaker raised the issue of declaration of moratoriums on evictions and urged the UN to take the lead on this.
• A participant from Latin America pointed out that there was social movement against forced evictions.
• Evictions are not a solutions to city development problems and needs

4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality? During the debate and discussion that followed the presentations the following were identified:

•  Efforts should be focused on looking for local and international innovative solutions.

•  Slum dwellers should be part of the transformation and planning of their cities.

•  S lum dwellers should be informed when evictions occur and given time to pack their belongings

•  Social security for housing should be implemented to make sure that people who are facing economic difficulties might stay in their house.

•  Declaration of moratoriums on evictions and the UN to take the lead on this.

•  Inclusive urban and city development strategies to prevent the creation on new slums.

•  AGFE has the potential to successfully intervene in forced evictions cases and should be financially supported to allow it to do more