In the media

Author of bedroom tax report defends findings after government’s attack

Published in Friday September 13th, 2013 In In the media

The Guardian Responding to the criticism in titles such as the Daily Mail and Daily Express, Rolnik told the Guardian: “My nationality is of no relevance to my role as a special rapporteur.” She added: “What should matter is how to address the housing issues in the UK in a way that respects the rights of people living in the UK.”

Tags

UN official will urge government to fund social housing

Published in Friday September 13th, 2013 In In the media

Inside Housing In her report to the UN Human Rights Council, to be published in March, she will advise that grant funding for developing social homes should be renewed, she told Inside Housing.

Tags ,

Bedroom tax is a human rights issue

Published in Friday September 13th, 2013 In In the media

The Guardian It really comes to something when the UN special investigator on housing, more familiar with shanty towns and favelas, has expressed herself so fiercely on the subject of the UK bedroom tax. “I was very shocked to hear how people really feel abused in their human rights by this decision and why – being so vulnerable – they should pay for the cost of the economic downturn, which was brought about by the financial crisis,” said Raquel Rolnik.

Tags

UN expert fights back after bias allegation

Published in Wednesday September 11th, 2013 In In the media

Inside Housing: Raquel Rolnik has come under fire from Conservative chair Grant Shapps, after she recommended suspending and reviewing the bedroom tax following a two-week fact-finding mission in the UK. Her preliminary report – which also recommends regulating the private sector and significantly increasing the social housing stock – was branded an ‘absolute disgrace’ by the former housing minister.

Tags

UK’s bedroom tax and housing crisis threaten human rights, says UN expert

Published in Wednesday September 11th, 2013 In In the media

The Guardian: In the warehouse, where volunteers were sorting crates of potatoes and pots of lemon and coconut yoghurt for distribution to the city’s poor, Rolnik listened as Robertson explained how the introduction of the bedroom tax was already causing substantial hardship to her and to her neighbours.

Tags

UN scrutinising impact of UK housing benefit changes

Published in Wednesday September 11th, 2013 In In the media

BBC: A senior United Nations official is examining the impact of changes to UK housing benefit on the human rights of low-income households. Raquel Rolnik is meeting tenants across Britain affected by the shake-up. Since April, social tenants in England, Scotland and Wales who are deemed to have surplus bedrooms have seen their housing benefit reduced. Ministers say it tackles an unfair “spare room subsidy” but opponents have dubbed it a “bedroom tax”.

Tags , , ,

Bedroom tax investigated by UN housing official

Published in Wednesday September 11th, 2013 In In the media

The Guardian: A senior UN official is in the UK to scrutinise the impact of the bedroom tax on the human rights of people in low-income households. The special rapporteur on housing, Raquel Rolnik, is on a two-week tour of cities where she will meet tenants affected by the policy as well as officials, campaigners and academics.

Tags

UN rights office voices concern over forced evictions of Palestinians in West Bank

Published in Wednesday August 28th, 2013 In In the media

The United Nations human rights office today expressed concern over the forced eviction of Palestinians in the West Bank as a result of recent demolitions carried out by Israeli authorities, and noted this could amount to a violation of international law. The demolitions began on 19 August and have been carried out by Israeli authorities in at least six different locations, including East Jerusalem, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said.

Tags ,

South Carolina City Takes Steps to Evict Homeless From Downtown

Published in Monday August 26th, 2013 In In the media

With business owners sounding increasingly worried about the threat they believe the homeless pose to Columbia’s economic surge, the City Council approved a plan this month that will essentially evict them from downtown streets.

Tags ,

Claims of illegal eviction in Uganda haunt German firm

Published in Monday August 26th, 2013 In In the media

In 2001, more than 4,000 people were evicted from land in Uganda after it had been acquired by a German coffee firm on a 99 year lease. The company insists the deal was above board, but an NGO is now raising doubts.