Report - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

ii. Sources <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Right to Adequate Housing in International Human Rights Treaties
Universal Declaration <strong>of</strong> Human Rights (UDHR) - Article 25.1;
Art. 25.1 “Everyone has <strong>the</strong> right to a standard <strong>of</strong> living adequate for <strong>the</strong> health and well-being <strong>of</strong>
himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing…”
Convention on <strong>the</strong> Rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Child (CRC) - Articles. 16.1 and 27.3;
Art. 16.1 “No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy,
family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation.”
Art. 27.3 “States parties, in accordance with national conditions and within <strong>the</strong>ir means, shall take
appropriate measures to assist parents and o<strong>the</strong>rs responsible for <strong>the</strong> child to implement this right and
shall in case <strong>of</strong> need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard
to nutrition, clothing and housing.”
International Convention on <strong>the</strong> Elimination <strong>of</strong> all forms <strong>of</strong> Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
Articles 3 and 5 (e) (iii);
Art. 3 “States Parties particularly condemn racial segregation and apar<strong>the</strong>id and undertake to prevent,
prohibit and eradicate all practices <strong>of</strong> this nature in territories under <strong>the</strong>ir jurisdiction.”
Art. 5 (e) (iii) States “to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee
<strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong> everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality
before <strong>the</strong> law, notably in <strong>the</strong> enjoyment <strong>of</strong> … The right to housing.”
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - Article 9.1;
Art. 9.1 “Everyone has <strong>the</strong> right to liberty and security <strong>of</strong> person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary
arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived <strong>of</strong> his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance
with such procedure as are established by law.”
Convention against Torture and O<strong>the</strong>r Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(CAT) - Article 16.1;
Art. 16.1 “Each State Party shall undertake to prevent in any territory under its jurisdiction o<strong>the</strong>r
acts <strong>of</strong> cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which do not amount to torture as defined
in article I, when such acts are committed by or at <strong>the</strong> instigation <strong>of</strong> or with <strong>the</strong> consent or acquiescence
<strong>of</strong> a public <strong>of</strong>ficial or o<strong>the</strong>r person acting in an <strong>of</strong>ficial capacity. In particular, <strong>the</strong> obligations contained
in articles 10, 11, 12 and 13 shall apply with <strong>the</strong> substitution for references to torture <strong>of</strong> references
to o<strong>the</strong>r forms <strong>of</strong> cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Habitat Agenda (Habitat II, 1996) – Paragraph 39
Para. 39 “We recognize an obligation by Governments to enable people to obtain shelter and to protect and
improve dwellings and neighbourhoods. … We shall implement and promote this objective in a manner fully
consistent with human rights standards.”
106 WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO ADEQUATE HOUSEING AND LAND