UN to Spain: Stop Evicting 87-Year-Old Woman or Face International Sanctions

UN to Spain: Stop Evicting 87-Year-Old Woman or Face International Sanctions

The United Nations has given Spain a December deadline to halt the eviction of an 87-year-old woman or provide her with alternative housing, warning that the forced removal would violate international treaties.

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The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has formally requested Spain suspend the eviction of Maricarmen, a Madrid resident who has lived in her home for over 70 years, while it reviews her case [170207]. The request follows a complaint filed by her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, with the Madrid Tenants’ Union, arguing that the eviction—set for June 24—would cause “irreparable harm” to the elderly woman [170207].

Maricarmen has been fighting for more than five years against investment fund Urbagestión, which bought her building in 2018 and seeks to evict her to speculate on the property [170207]. The first eviction attempt was stopped in October 2025 after public pressure, and the second was postponed on June 3, which the Tenants’ Union called a “blunt attempt” to weaken public support [170207].

Under Franco-era laws, Maricarmen’s mother inherited the property after her father died, but when her mother died, Maricarmen could not benefit from older rent-control rules [170207]. The Tenants’ Union says neither the Madrid regional government led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso nor the city council led by José Luis Martínez-Almeida has offered any housing alternative [170207].

The judge now has the power to stop the eviction while the UN reviews the complaint [170207]. The Tenants’ Union warns that if the eviction proceeds on June 24, it would be illegal under international treaties Spain has signed [170207].

Sources

UN to Spain: Stop eviction of 87-year-old woman or offer housing #170207

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