A/79/317 Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, Balakrishnan Rajagopal Towards guiding principles on resettlement: a review and assessment of current laws, policies and practices Summary In his thematic report on resettlement after evictions and displacement: addressing a human rights crisis (A/HRC/55/53), the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, launched a clarion call to recognize, prevent and counteract the poor outcomes and negative impacts of resettlement. The present report represents a second building block in his work towards developing principles and guidelines for human rights-based resettlement – a proposal that was welcomed by the Human Rights Council. In the report, the Special Rapporteur reviews and assesses the current laws, policies and practices of various resettlement actors and outlines the key parameters for developing future resettlement guidelines. The planning and design phase of resettlement is crucial in determining whether durable, human rights-based solutions can be achieved and whether affected people can successfully reestablish their lives, livelihoods and communities. During this phase, the focus must be on ensuring the right to remain, the right to return and the right to resettlement. This includes respectful and meaningful participation in decisions about resettlement sites, project design and implementation, and agreements between affected and host communities based on the principle of benefit-sharing. In addition, adequate project financing should be secured without undermining the macroeconomic stability of countries, along with effective monitoring, follow-up and grievance procedures. An inclusive, respectful, participatory and partnership-based approach to planning and design greatly enhances the chances of success for all forms of resettlement. During implementation, States must ensure full compliance with human rights standards in land allocation, service provision and infrastructure development at resettlement sites. They must also enforce laws that protect human rights, resolve conflicts and provide effective redress mechanisms. Post-resettlement monitoring and evaluation, along with the provision of resources for adaptive management and corrective actions, are critical for assessing outcomes and addressing ongoing challenges in resettlement projects. The report concludes with key recommendations for States, development finance institutions, international organizations and businesses. 2/24 24-15075