Nepal’s Slum Demolitions Spark Human Rights Outcry

• Nepal's government conducted mass demolitions of slums in the Kathmandu Valley starting April 25, 2026, displacing 15,316 people.
• Affected residents, many of whom are landless, Dalits, or indigenous, received no adequate notice, consultation, or alternative housing.
• The government's actions violated several rights guaranteed by the 2015 Constitution, including the rights to housing, food, health, and information.
• Nepal's Supreme Court issued an interim order on May 8 halting the evictions following a legal petition.

Human Rights Crisis

• Authorities utilized the police, military, and municipal forces to clear homes, often harassing or detaining residents during the process.
• Evicted families were confined to heavily securitized holding centers where they faced harassment, food insecurity, and pressure to leave.
• The 2026/27 school exams for 3,133 affected children were severely disrupted, leading to widespread educational loss and psychological distress.

Official Response and Compensation

• The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which had previously pledged to resolve landlessness, oversaw these demolitions without providing a sustainable resettlement plan.
• Authorities offered a one-time payment of NPR 25,000 (approx. US $162) to families, urging them to find private rentals despite the insufficiency of these funds.
• Human rights defenders and journalists were frequently denied access to affected sites, making the eviction process opaque and humiliating.

Path Forward

• International and national organizations have demanded an immediate end to the drive and adherence to the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.
• Experts recommend a comprehensive strategy involving meaningful community consultation, local government coordination, and the identification of legitimate land for resettlement to avoid further human rights violations.