Europa Oriental e Ásia Central

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.

Arrest of activists protesting criminalization of homelessness in Hungary

November 14, 2012 On 11 November 2011 the City is For All (AVM) held a demonstration in front of the municipality of Budapest’s 8th district claiming that local mayor Mate Kocsis repeal his proposal to impose a 530 euros fine on homeless people or 60 days of imprisonment for “residing in public places”. Despite the […]

Hungarian Constitutional Court struck down on the criminalization of homelessness

November 13, 2012 We are very happy to announce that the Hungarian Constitutional Court, the country’s highest court, has confirmed what The City is for All has represented for years: “The mere fact that someone lives in public space does not infringe on other people’s rights, does not cause damage and does not endanger the […]

Bulldozers clear the way in Russia’s Olympics showcase

November 05, 2012 The workers arrived at Sergei Khlystov’s gate on a Friday evening to bulldoze his home and clear a path for sewage pipes to the Olympic village being built in the Russian city of Sochi. Khlystov and his 33-year-old son-in-law, Maxim Samokhval, at first tried to block the bulldozers but then stood aside and […]

Construction and Forced Evictions Mark Olympic Showcase in Russia

Hotels, sports facilities and general improvements are under construction in the city, and work is going on in the mountains above Sochi where other events will be held. This means upheaval for some residents. The cost of resettling 1,500 families in the path of the bulldozers has been borne by the government of the relatively wealthy Krasnodar region in which Sochi lies.

Russia: Halt Forced Eviction for Olympics Road

Human Rights Watch adresses the Russian authorities to stop the impending forced eviction of a Sochi family to make way for road construction ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Human Rights Watch said today. They also claim that International Olympic Committee (IOC) should urgently review the case and insist that the Russian authorities provide the family with fair compensation.

Forced Eviction Tramples Olympic Ideals in Russia

September 19, 2012 The illegal eviction of a family in Sochi casts a dark shadow over preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Human Rights Watch said today. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should intervene immediately to ensure that the Russian authorities provide the family with compensation, Human Rights Watch said. “The home demolition and […]

Russia: Halt House Demolition for Olympics

September 14, 2012 The Russian authorities’ illegal bulldozing on a property in Sochi is a stain on the 2014 Winter Olympic Games preparations, Human Rights Watch said today.  The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should urgently intervene with the Russian government to respect the rights of the family, including by providing reasonable compensation, such as relocation to […]

2012 Communications Report available for viewing

The UN Human Rights Council has already made available for viewing the report with all communications sent by the Special Rapporteurs, as well as the answers received by the Member States.

Scores of Roma face imminent forced eviction in Romania

September 06, 2012 More than 100 Romani adults and children will be forcibly evicted from an informal settlement in northern Romania unless local authorities back down on a pledge to demolish their homes, Amnesty International said today. Local officials in the northern town of Baia Mare have given 26 Romani families living in the Pirita […]