WUF13 pushes cities to end forced evictions in development plans

Communities must be placed at the centre of all development processes, not treated merely as recipients of aid, Nalini Chawla, a representative of the Grassroots and Civil Society Organisations Assembly, said at the joint closing dialogue of the Assemblies at the World Urban Forum (WUF13).

"One of the issues we raised was the issue of evictions. We stated that all types of evictions should end," she said.

According to Chawla, frameworks need to be established in which laws safeguard communities and in which communities themselves have access to land and secure tenure.

"If people are forced to leave their homes, they must be provided with a dignified alternative that allows them to live with respect for human dignity," the Assembly representative emphasised.

She underlined the importance of planning development together with communities, rather than designing it on their behalf.

"Communities must be at the center of all development processes, not just formal recipients of aid," Chawla said.

The Assembly representative also highlighted inclusivity as a key principle.

"Our group represented a variety of stakeholders: older people, people with disabilities, community representatives, slum dwellers-people with real-life experience," she said.

She stressed that member states must guarantee the participation of all stakeholders in decision-making mechanisms.

Chawla also raised concerns regarding financing. "We cannot continue to adopt beautifully written policies without action and without allocating resources for their implementation. Our strategies cannot simply gather dust on shelves," the Assembly representative stated.

She further identified accountability as a core issue. "We cannot continue to sign documents declaring that housing is a human right without being accountable to each other," she said, adding that responsibility must lie with member states and all stakeholders.

In conclusion, she urged governments to ensure that local community representatives are included in such forums so they can speak for themselves.

Chawla also voiced hope for greater space for local communities at the next World Urban Forum.

By Jeyhun Aghazada