Every day many tens of millions of people throughout the world face the very real threat of eviction and the permanent loss of their homes. Numerous human rights standards equate forced evictions with the violation of housing rights. Nevertheless, too many governments continue to view eviction as an acceptable policy tool during broader efforts of urban beautification, city rejuvenation or economic development. The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) identified more than 6.7 million people worldwide who were forcibly evicted during 2001-2002 and acknowledges that the real number of evictees is far higher. African and Asian governments have carried out the largest proportion of the world’s evictions in recent years.