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.

The UN Human Rights Council, during its 15th session in late September, decided to extend for a period of three years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. Concerning the permanency of Raquel Rolnik as Special Rapporteur, initially stablished to end up on April 2011, it will be appreciated by the Council in March 2011, who will decide if her mandate should be extended for an additional period of three years.

1 October 2010 Reacting to the decision by the UN Human Rights Council currently meeting in Geneva, Switzerland to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, COHRE today welcomed the move, saying that it demonstrated a commitment on the part of the international community to acknowledge the challenges the world still faces in terms of realizing the right to adequate housing for the worlds poorest.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur has been extended for a period of three years, with a brief to promote the full realization of the right to adequate housing worldwide.