Hetauda: Amnesty International Nepal has launched the 2026 edition of the Write for Rights campaign in Nepal, calling on the government to respect, protect, and fulfil the right to adequate housing of people, to refrain from forced evictions, and provide timely relief and alternative housing arrangements to the thousands of forcefully evicted people from the informal settlements in Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal.
Write for Rights is Amnesty International’s flagship annual global campaign, which has mobilised millions of people worldwide over the past 25 years to stand up for individuals and communities whose human rights are under threat. Through letter-writing, petitions and public advocacy, the campaign calls on authorities to end human rights violations and deliver justice.
This year’s global campaign highlights individuals and communities facing human rights violations in countries including Egypt, Pakistan, El Salvador and Hong Kong. They include people targeted for defending human rights, challenging state repression and protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights. In Nepal, the campaign focuses on urging the government to respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing of people including by refraining from forced evictions and urgently addressing the devastating human rights and humanitarian crises faced by the people who were forcefully evicted in April and May this year.
Since 25 April, forced evictions in various parts of the Kathmandu Valley have displaced more than 15,000 people, including over 3,000 children. People were forcibly removed from their homes without adequate prior notice, due legal process or alternative housing arrangements.
More than six months after the evictions took place, affected families continue to face uncertainty and hardship, without any form of housing security and clarity about their future. Conditions for displaced people living in “holding centres” are concerning. At least ten people have reportedly died, including by suicide and lack of access to medical care.
Those affected include daily-wage labourers, domestic workers, small business owners, Dalits and Indigenous Peoples, many of whom already face systemic discrimination and economic insecurity. The loss of their homes has further jeopardised several of their human rights including access to education, healthcare, employment, food and social security, and has thus deepened their vulnerability and undermined their dignity.
“A government cannot claim to uphold human rights while leaving thousands of people homeless and forcing families, including children, to live in continuous uncertainty and fear. A home is more than just a roof over one’s head; it is the foundation of dignity, security and a life lived with freedom from fear,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal.
A government cannot claim to uphold human rights while leaving thousands of people homeless and forcing families, including children, to live in continuous uncertainty and fear. A home is more than just a roof over one’s head; it is the foundation of dignity, security and a life lived with freedom from fear
Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal
“Evictions carried out without due process, meaningful consultation or adequate alternatives deepen inequality and expose people to further human rights violations. The government must stop treating marginalised communities as obstacles to development and fulfil its responsibility to protect their rights, ensure access to adequate housing and provide safe and dignified resettlement for those already displaced,” he added.
The right to adequate housing is recognised under Nepal’s Constitution. Forced evictions carried out without appropriate legal safeguards and adequate alternative arrangements can violate multiple human rights, including the rights to housing, life, health, education, privacy, equality and dignity. Authorities must meaningfully consult affected communities, explore all feasible alternatives to eviction and ensure appropriate safeguards and resettlement when eviction is unavoidable as a last resort.
Through the Write for Rights campaign, Amnesty International Nepal is calling on Prime Minister Balendra Shah and relevant government authorities to respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing, refrain from forced evictions and ensure prompt and dignified resettlement of all those already displaced. The campaign also urges authorities to identify everyone affected and ensure access to essential services, social protection and effective remedies for human rights violations.
Each year, Amnesty International Nepal mobilises more than 6,000 members across the country to collect over 150,000 petitions in support of people whose human rights are under threat. Through this year’s campaign, the organisation calls on people across Nepal to stand in solidarity with communities affected by forced evictions and demand that everyone’s right to a safe and dignified home be respected.