News on the Rapporteurs

Rapporteur promotes consultations on security of tenure on May

In May, the Rapporteur will conduct two consultations as part of the security of tenure project – one on the 11 in Quito (Ecuador) and another on the 27 and 28 in Johannesburg (South Africa).

Collection and mapping of cases of extractive industries in or near indigenous territories

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples requests information about extractive and energy industry projects in or near indigenous territories. Indigenous peoples, NGOs that work with them, Governments, companies, and other interested parties are invited to provide information about cases of extractive industries (mining, petroleum, or gas projects) and energy production (such as hydroelectric projects) in or near indigenous territories.

Threats to right to food and ancestral sovereignty over territory

Indigenous Communities and Organizations for the Ancestral Forest, made up of about twenty Mapuche groups, presented on March 11 a declaration directed to the United Nations Special Rapporteurs Oliver De Schutter, about the right to food, and Raquel Rolnik, about the right to housing, denouncing the damaging effects of the Chilean forest policy, which endangers their right to food and ancestral sovereignty over their territory.

Side-event on the right to housing in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories

On March 4th, the Special Rapporteur Raquel Rolnik participated in an expert roundtable with human rights defenders entitled “The Violation of Housing, Land, and Planning Rights in Israel and the OPT: Expert Testimonies from the Field”. The side-event was organized by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, during the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The Special Rapporteur will visit the UK in September

The Special Rapporteur will conduct a mission to the United Kingdom between September 2-16, 2013. More information soon!

Infonote about the study on security of tenure

Security of tenure is a central component of the right to adequate housing. The lack of security of tenure – in law and practice – makes protection against forced eviction very difficult, leaving the most vulnerable at risk of a range of human rights violations.

Thematic report on security of tenure will be presented to the Human Rights Council on March 4

The UN Special Rapporteur will present her new thematic report on security of tenure on March 4th, 2013, during the Human Rights Council 22nd session. Click here to read the report.

UN experts urge Hungary to uphold Constitutional Court decision to decriminalize homelessness

Two United Nations experts on extreme poverty and housing today urged the Government of Hungary to uphold the recent Constitutional Court decision decriminalizing homelessness, to amend the anti-homeless legislation and to adopt a national housing strategy, which will take into account the needs and views of the homeless and those inadequately housed, in conformity with international human rights obligations.

UN praises Africa for leading way with landmark treaty protecting internally displaced people

The United Nations refugee chief today saluted the “historic” entry into force of an Africa-wide treaty – the world’s first – that protects people displaced within their own countries by violence, natural disasters or large-scale development projects. “Around the world, the number of people forced into displacement within their own countries is growing,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres.

“Financial credit for homeownership is not an adequate solution for the world’s poor”, says UN expert on housing

Financial markets have taken over the housing sector, resulting in a detrimental effect on the enjoyment of the right to adequate housing, especially for the poor, UN Special Rapporteur Raquel Rolnik said today, urging governments to adopt broader policies and interventions for the housing sector.