In many parts of the Global South—especially in Latin America—urban social movements have invoked the Right to the City as a slogan to advocate for and further a host of progressive claims and alternative visions of urban development. But what is the scope of such a right in law? And how might informal workers use the Right to the City to secure their livelihoods? In this edition of Law and Informality Insights, we analyze a recent Indian High Court ruling that relies on Right to the City debates to protect those living in informal settlements from forced eviction. We will also explore the possibilities that this jurisprudence presents to advocate for informal workers’ rights in the Global South.
Photo: Home-based workers hand rolling Indian-style cigarettes in informal settlements in India.
Photo Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images Reportage.