News

Your Organization Can Contribute with the Special Rapporteur Work

Published in Wednesday January 19th, 2011 In News

At the end of last year, the Urban Poor Associates, a Philippines based NGO, sent us clarifications and more information about Longos´s case, reported on our guide on development based evictions and on the section Implementing the right to housing? on our website. With the information sent, we were able to review the text on the Guide and on the website.

Special Rapporteur Will Attend an International Conference on Roma and Right to Housing

Published in Saturday January 1st, 2011 In News

In February 2-4th , Raquel Rolnik will participate in the international conference “Improving Access to Housing for Roma: Good Local Practices, Funding and Legislation”, in Prague, Czech Republic.

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Recording human-rights cases

Published in Tuesday December 28th, 2010 In News

By SHELLY BANJO

As urbanization takes hold across the globe, Joshua Mailman is looking to end forced evictions that often arise as a result of large-scale, new development.

Known for being a professional philanthropist, Mr. Mailman has launched a number of philanthropic organizations and wealthy giving circles such as the Social Network and Threshold Foundation. This month he announced a $50,000 gift to Brooklyn-based human rights organization Witness.

‘Regret’ over forced evictions in Cambodia

Published in Monday December 27th, 2010 In In the media

Monday, 27 December 2010 20:14 May Titthara

A senior government official yesterday expressed “regret” over the forced eviction and relocation of thousands of Phnom Penh residents in recent years, attributing problems to a lack of awareness in resolving government policy.

Speaking at a workshop in Phnom Penh yesterday, Im Chhun Lim, the Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, said that though the removal and relocation of residents’ homes was commonplace in developing countries, it was important that the government takes action based on the proper policies.

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Truculent Olympics

Published in Tuesday December 21st, 2010 In In the media

December, 21st

Raquel Rolnik

Within the past week, the Olymipic plan for the city of Rio de Janeiro has revealed a strong ambiguity in the quality of large urban development
projects. Investments in public infrastructure, transport and sporting facilities arrive at the same pace as regrettable episodes of basic human rights violations and disrespect for the human condition.

In the West Zone of Rio, since December 15th, horror and tension have characterized the experience of countless families. Reports received from residents, on-lookers and the Public Defenders of Rio de Janeiro detail the abuse of power and state of exception which has been established along the edges of Av. das Américas, which cuts through the communities of Vila Recreio II, Vila Harmonia and Restinga do Recreio dos Bandeirantes.

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A Year Later, the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing Attends a Follow Up Event of the US Mission

Published in Friday November 19th, 2010 In News

On October 25th, in New York, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Raquel Rolnik, attended a Follow Up Event of the Mission that she has done to US in 2009. The event was organized by the Campaign
Restore National Housing Rights and had the presence of representatives from grassroots organizations from all the country.

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Guide and leaflet on forced evictions have been used in several places around the world

Published in Wednesday November 17th, 2010 In News

Early this year, we published a leaflet on forced evictions, for the populations of threatened communities, and a guide to those involved in urban development projects on how to respect the right to adequate housing in the implementation of these projects. These materials are based on guidelines approved in 2007 by the Rapporteur and were produced in five languages – English, Spanish, French,Portuguese and Arabic.

South Africa’s football lesson

Published in Thursday November 4th, 2010 In News

By Simon Kuper Hosts need to understand what a World Cup is: a party – it is fun, but costs money On Sunday Dilma Rousseff will probably be voted president of Brazil. Soon afterwards she should get on her plane and visit the poor South African town of Nelspruit. There she will see the football stadium […]

Opposition to PETRA’s Mortgage Financing: Read the Letter from US Civil Society

Published in Wednesday November 3rd, 2010 In News

Read the letter written by organizations of the civil society, academics and citzens of US about PETRA (Preservation, Enhancement and Transition of Rental Assistance Act), a new national housing policy. It is directed to the Housing and Urban Depelopment Secretary, Shaun Donovan. The UN Special Rapportteur on the Right to Adequate Housing signs the document. Secretary Shaun Donovan.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20410

Dear Secretary Donovan,

As local and national organizations working to protect the human right to housing in the United States, we write to express our ongoing and grave concerns regarding the current state of PETRA. At a time when public housing residents are in desperate need of stability and increased public resources, aspects of PETRA threaten the sustainability of these communities.

While we commend your agencys response to the long-standing need to streamline rental assistance programs, we remain concerned that elements of PETRA will set into motion a process of public housing privatization. In particular, project-basing our public housing provides no guarantee that these deeply affordable housing units will remain permanent assets to our communities.

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Nigeria’s urban renewal is trying to bulldoze human rights

Published in Wednesday November 3rd, 2010 In News

The clearing of more than 200,000 people who live on the waterfronts of
Port Harcourt will wreck businesses and lives

Celestine Akpobari

guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 November 2010 14.00 GMT

Having to stand by and watch helplessly as bulldozers destroy home and
possessions is probably one of the hardest things any person could endure.
Yet that threat looms for
more than 200,000 people who live on the waterfronts of Port Harcourt,
in Rivers State, Nigeria. And for some like Love Bassett Okpadio it
has already become a reality.

Okpadio used to live in Njemanze, an informal settlement on Port Harcourt’s
waterfronts, with her husband and five children. In August 2009, Okpadio
and her family were forcibly evicted from their home which was demolished
under state authorities’ orders.

The clearing of more than 200,000 people who live on the waterfronts of
Port Harcourt will wreck businesses and lives

Celestine Akpobari

guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 November 2010 14.00 GMT

Having to stand by and watch helplessly as bulldozers destroy home and
possessions is probably one of the hardest things any person could endure.
Yet that threat looms for
more than 200,000 people who live on the waterfronts of Port Harcourt,
in Rivers State, Nigeria. And for some like Love Bassett Okpadio it
has already become a reality.

Okpadio used to live in Njemanze, an informal settlement on Port Harcourt’s
waterfronts, with her husband and five children. In August 2009, Okpadio
and her family were forcibly evicted from their home which was demolished
under state authorities’ orders.