A/HRC/13/21 human rights abuse. The result can be insufficient or inappropriate protection from threats caused by the effects of disaster; unequal access to humanitarian assistance, in particular for displaced women; discrimination in the provision of assistance; sexual and gender-based violence, particularly in collective shelters or camps; infringements of the right to education; non-replacement of lost, confiscated or destroyed documents; economic and sexual exploitation of children in the absence of sufficient assistance; unsafe or involuntary returns or forced relocations to other parts of the country; or failure to restore property and reconstruct houses or provide compensation. 44. Such disregard for the human rights of those affected by natural disasters is not necessarily intentional, but often results from inappropriate policies, a lack of capacity to appropriately respond to the disaster and the challenges of reconstruction, or simple oversight. Therefore, it is necessary to use a human rights based approach to early warning, disaster contingency planning, disaster management and mitigation, and efforts to find durable solutions for the displaced. 2. Development-induced displacement 45. Another area that requires more attention is the protection of persons who are obliged to leave their homes due to development projects, including urban planning and construction activities. Such persons are without doubt internally displaced persons.18 This is explicitly recognized by the Kampala Convention which addresses displacement induced by development projects. 46. The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), a non-governmental organization, estimates that 1.6 million people were forcibly evicted in 2007 and 2008 – in many cases without consultation, adequate alternatives or compensation and therefore contrary to the Guiding Principles.19 UN-HABITAT has warned that forced evictions are increasing.20 Profound socio-economic change in rapidly growing urban centres, increased efforts to exploit natural resources (including renewable sources of energy), and megaevents such as international sporting events21 are all contributing factors. 3. The “invisible displaced” in urban areas and host families 47. Internally displaced persons are often dispersed in urban areas and required to find their own accommodation, stay in collective centres and public buildings such as schools, or live with host families. The number of urban internally displaced is likely to increase significantly in the future, largely due to today’s rapid urbanization.22 Identifying and protecting them and addressing their specific needs, without neglecting the resident urban poor and migrants from rural areas, are challenges that deserve more attention. In this respect, it is important to recognize the particular pressures on municipal authorities. 18 19 20 21 22 12 See Guiding Principle 6 (2) (c). On development-related displacement see also A/HRC/13/21/Add.1, para. 53. Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, Global Survey on Forced Evictions: Violations of Human Rights 2007–2008 (Geneva, 2009), available at: http://www.cohre.org/globalsurvey. During the same period, a total of 4.3 million people were affected by threatened and implemented forced evictions. See also Guiding Principle 7. Advisory Group on Forced Evictions to the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, “Finding solutions to forced evictions worldwide: a priority to meet the MDGs and implement the Habitat agenda” (April 2007). See the report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, A/HRC/13/20. Projections are that by 2030, some 5 billion people will live in urban areas compared to 3.3 billion today. See UN-HABITAT, State of the World’s Cities 2006/07 (2006). GE.10-10161