Resettlement

In most contexts, planned resettlement efforts fail to meet basic human rights standards, while the number of people in need of safe and adequate resettlement grows dramatically owing to conflict, disasters, climate impacts and development pressures and projects. The goal of resettlement must be to fully re-establish the lives of displaced persons and to improve them in a fair and just manner, consistent with sustainable development.

— Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, A/HRC/61/43 (para. 31)

Introduction

Around the world, societies are facing an escalating crisis of evictions and displacement, and inadequate responses to the resettlement needs of the people affected. This crisis stems from a wide range of factors: rapid urbanization and urban planning, large-scale development projects, natural and human-made disasters, environmental degradation, heritage and nature conservation, climate change, violent conflict and occupation.

International human rights law establishes a clear baseline: forced evictions and coercive or involuntary displacement are always illegal and, wherever possible, any other evictions or resettlement must be avoided. Nonetheless, there are circumstances in which resettlement becomes necessary, for example to protect residents from imminent risks or to secure durable solutions for those displaced by conflict or disasters who cannot safely return home. Even in such cases, however, the consequences of resettlement have frequently been devastating. Many communities face impoverishment, the loss of livelihoods, social fragmentation, insecure tenure, inadequate housing and long -term marginalization as a result of poorly planned or coercive resettlement programmes.

Guiding Principles on Resettlement (2026)

In 2024 the Human Rights Council invited in its resolution 55/11 States and other relevant stakeholders to contribute to the development of the guidelines on resettlement by the Special Rapporteur. The Guiding Principles on Resettlement were subsequently presented to the Human Rights Council in March 2026 (A/HRC/61/43).

The Guiding Principles on Resettlement are aimed at consolidating and clarifying the existing obligations of States and the responsibilities of non-State actors, businesses and international organizations in situations involving displacement, eviction, relocation and planned resettlement in the light of the applicable standards, practices and lessons learned. They draw on existing norms of international law, including human rights law, humanitarian law and environmental law, and the standards and jurisprudence of United Nations treaty bodies, special procedures, regional and national human rights systems, and international financial institutions. They are accompanied by a commentary that elaborates on the legal basis of each principle contained in the Guiding Principles.

The Guiding Principles emerged from a two-and-a-half-year-long process of knowledge and data gathering, consultation with States, civil society groups, affected communities and experts, as well as two UN reports (A/79/317, A/HRC/55/53). Rooted in the recognition that every person threatened with or affected by eviction or displacement is a rights holder who deserves to have their rights fully recognized, restored and respected, the Guiding Principles aim to ensure that resettlement processes and outcomes uphold dignity, equality, participation and non-discrimination.

Read the Guiding Principles in all UN languages on the following link.

Reports

Towards guiding principles on resettlement: a review and assessment of current laws, policies and practices (2024)

In this report, the Special Rapporteur reviews and assesses the current laws, policies and practices of various resettlement actors during the planning and design phase, the implementation phase and the post-resettlement phase and outlines the key parameters for developing future resettlement guidelines. It contains key recommendations for States, Development Finance Institutions, International Organizations and Businesses.

Read the report in all UN languages (A/79/317).

Resettlement after eviction and displacement: addressing a human rights crisis (2024)

In this report, the Special Rapporteur launches a clarion call to prevent and counteract the poor outcomes and negative impacts of resettlement in an age that is witnessing increased displacement caused by disasters, development, conflict, uncontrolled use of eminent domain, urbanization, industrial agriculture, climate change and other drivers.  It argues for the development of comprehensive global principles and guidelines to ensure that resettlement is undertaken in full compliance with human rights.

Read the report in all UN languages (A/HRC/55/53)