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C. Understanding the relationship between housing, land and property, internal displacement and human rights

• Housing, land and property issues as causes of displacement

23. The impact on land and housing of development and business activities such as largescale investments in land, infrastructure, mining and urban renewal have led to displacement and expropriation under conditions amounting to forced eviction. Conservation measures have also resulted in forced evictions and displacement in numerous countries and particularly affected the land rights of indigenous people.23 In other cases, competition over access to valuable resources has resulted in violent attacks on civilians, the destruction or occupation of housing and property and sustained conflict involving military forces, non-State armed groups and criminal organizations.

• Specific groups

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40. Indigenous peoples’ strong cultural, spiritual and economic attachment to their lands is recognized under human rights law, which details the measures to be taken to protect them from displacement, including by requiring their free, prior and informed consent in respect of any measures and projects affecting the use of their land and natural resources and of attempts to relocate them away from their land. Indigenous peoples’ tenure is mostly customary, with limited legal recognition or protection from the State. Their housing, land and property rights have typically been threatened by displacement caused by conflict, environmental conservation laws and investment projects authorized by the State. ..