Report - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

International Cooperation
• “Solidarity and fraternity” dimension <strong>of</strong> State obligation;
• No action or policy may be adopted that may inhibit <strong>the</strong> ability <strong>of</strong> States to comply with <strong>the</strong>ir
human rights commitments vis-à-vis <strong>the</strong>ir citizens;
• The international community has an obligation to remove any impediments to <strong>the</strong> achievement
<strong>of</strong> compliance with <strong>the</strong>ir human rights obligations among developing nations.
iv. Guarantees
Guarantees include international treaties that have been ratified by governments, constitutional
provisions, and national, State and local laws, policies, programmes and budgets.
Please refer to <strong>the</strong> Draft PEAC Fact Sheet on <strong>the</strong> right to adequate housing which contains an initial
listing <strong>of</strong> Australian laws and policies related to housing.
v. Causes Obstacles and Threats
It is important to identify all legal, economic, political, cultural and historical barriers to <strong>the</strong> realisation
<strong>of</strong> all human rights, including <strong>the</strong> human right to adequate housing.
vi. Victimisation/Vulnerability
It is important to identify different vulnerable groups that may be affected, as well as identify clearly
<strong>the</strong> potential causes for <strong>the</strong>ir heightened vulnerability.
vii. Impacts and Consequences
It is important to identify short-term, long-term, economic, psychological and o<strong>the</strong>r impacts on direct
victims and secondary persons affected.
See <strong>the</strong> Loss Matrix which contains guidelines for quantifying costs and impacts.
viii. Violator/Duty Holder
Of particular importance, with regard to violations <strong>of</strong> women’s rights, is <strong>the</strong> need to distinguish between
violator and duty holder as family members, community members and/or o<strong>the</strong>r private actors <strong>of</strong>ten
violate women’s rights.
According to <strong>the</strong> doctrine <strong>of</strong> ‘due diligence,’ States assume <strong>the</strong> obligation <strong>of</strong> being <strong>the</strong> ultimate duty
holders, and are particularly responsible for preventing, punishing and providing access to redress
for acts/threats <strong>of</strong> violations committed by private actors.
ix. Action/Intervention
Copies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Strategic Action and Solution Menu are available on request.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 109