The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this contexto undertook an official visit to Kazakhstan from 6 to 13 September 2010. The purpose of the mission was to gather first-hand information on the status of the realization of the right to adequate housing and other related human rights in Kazakhstan.
In particular, the Special Rapporteur focused on the adverse impact of the global economic and financial crises on the enjoyment of the right to adequate housing and on the large-scale evictions or displacement of individuals and communities living in or around the cities of Astana and Almaty.
During her visit to Astana and Almaty, the Special Rapporteur met with a wide range of Government representatives and non-State agents, and received testimonies from several people alleging violations of their right to adequate housing.
The Special Rapporteur welcomes the significant progress that the State has made in the implementation of the right to adequate housing at the national level. Such measures include the inclusion of specific provisions on adequate housing in the Constitution, the adoption of a number of legislative and policy measures, such as the Housing Relations Act of 1997 and the State housing construction programme for the 2008-2010 period.
She welcomes as well the elaboration of a number of incentives, such as a system of housing loans, rental subsidies and land allotments for the construction of residential houses, to facilitate access to affordable housing for individuals and households belonging to low-income and disadvantaged groups.
To read the report, click here.
To read the statement made by the Rapporteur at the end of the mission, click here.
To read the mission report, click below.