The last few years have witnessed an unprecedented rise in forced evictions across the world. A multitude of factors, including large infrastructure and so-called development projects in both rural and urban areas, such as those related to dams, mines, and ports; urban renewal and expansion; city “beautification”; sports events; industrial development, including the takeover of farmland; and most recently, designation of large areas as tax-free Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are leading to the eviction of individuals and communities from their homes and habitat. In the absence of adequate rehabilitation, this has exacerbated homelessness and inadequate living conditions, and resulted in loss of livelihoods. General Comment 7 adopted in 1997 by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) defines forced eviction as the, “[p]ermanent or temporary removal against the will of individuals, families or communities from their homes or land, which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.” Forced evictions also constitute violations of a range of internationally recognized human rights such as the human rights to adequate housing, land, health, food, security of the person and security of the home. The collapse of rural economies, the agrarian crisis, landlessness, and displacement resulting from mega projects in rural areas forces many to migrate to cities in search of livelihood options. The absence of low cost and public housing in cities results in large numbers of people living in grossly inadequate housing conditions, often without access to basic services. With mounting pressure on land in urban areas, local administrative authorities are increasingly looking to shift informal settlements and slums from city centres to the outskirts of the city. This negatively affects the livelihood, health, and education of residents. The land acquired from slum evictions is then used for revenue generating enterprises like shopping malls, entertainment complexes, high-rise office buildings or housing colonies for the urban elite. We have consistently stood against such slum relocation and maintained that slums should be upgraded and relocated only if there is an explicit danger to the health and lives of the slum dwellers. HLRN works at several levels in collaboration with partners and social movements against forced evictions and displacement. We have also been engaged in efforts to ensure a human rights-based rehabilitation policy. In the majority of cases, the evicted do not have receive any rehabilitation. For instance, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, India, has an entire slum settlement comprising mainly of oustees from the Bargi Dam on the Narmada River. A large number of dams are also planned in India's northeastern region, displacing thousands and also adversely affecting downstream populations. HLRN in collaboration with YUVA launched a Campaign in 2008 on promoting the UN Guidelines on Development-based Evictions and Displacement. The Campaign aims to promote awareness on the Guidelines and encourage their use, implementation, and incorporation in to national and local laws and policies with the aim of minimizing displacement and protecting the human rights of displaced populations.