Demolished: Forced Evictions and the Tenants' Rights

By: Human Rights Watch

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Synopsis: This report, based largely on published Chinese-language sources-including press accounts, Internet discussions, expert commentary, and government laws, regulations, and statements-details the problems many Chinese citizens face as they are evicted from their homes, sometimes violently, by state and private actors. Many of these forced evictions violate basic human rights protections in both Chinese and international law. The report also provides an overview of current eviction and demolition practices in China's cities, the regulations governing such practices, and the parties involved. It traces the emergence over the past several years of a vibrant tenants' rights movement and the government's recent crackdown on some of the leading figures. The issue of forced evictions in China has begun to receive attention in official circles, and has even prompted a constitutional amendment, but significant hurdles remain. If the deficiencies in implementation of laws are not remedied and rights of evictees not upheld, eviction practices can be expected to serve as a continuing source of high profile social unrest and at times extreme forms of protest. In Beijing, the clearing of new sites for Olympics venues likely will continue to be a flashpoint.

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