Report - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

“An indigenous elder living in a Department <strong>of</strong> Housing home has asked for her house
to be made accessible (i.e. ramps, modifies taps etc.) because she has arthritis. She
lobbied <strong>the</strong> Department for three years, not supported by any organisation, with no result.
They argued that <strong>the</strong> house would need to be demolished and rebuilt, which would cost
about $80-100,000. She ended up having to move into a nursing home at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> 54
years. She is very depressed at having to live in an old age home at such a relatively
young age. She tried to return to a Department <strong>of</strong> Housing unit, with <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> a case
worker from People with Disability (an NGO), but <strong>the</strong> house allocated was not culturally
appropriate.” (Case from Kim Curtis, Newton, Australia)
The disadvantaged position <strong>of</strong> aboriginal communities is heightened for aboriginal women with
disabilities, because <strong>the</strong>y face multiple discrimination as a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir indigenous background,
gender and disability. For example, in an extended aboriginal family different expectations are
placed on women in terms <strong>of</strong> providing adequate housing for <strong>the</strong> family. This raises specific housing
needs for aboriginal women, which aboriginal women with disabilities may be prevented from
accessing.
The key obstacles women with disabilities face in realising <strong>the</strong>ir right to adequate housing in <strong>the</strong> Pacific
include:
• Lack <strong>of</strong> affordability and access to private housing (rental or ownership);
• Lack <strong>of</strong> access to finance for land and housing;
• Lack <strong>of</strong> access to public housing (inability to pay rent).
Recommendations to States:
– Revise building and town planning policies to make sure that homes, buildings and services
are accessible for women with disabilities;
– Provide anti-disability discrimination training and awareness for government <strong>of</strong>ficials, service
delivery organisations, human rights organisations and <strong>the</strong> general public, to change
community attitudes to look beyond <strong>the</strong> disability;
– Enact laws and policies to protect and realise <strong>the</strong> rights <strong>of</strong> women with disabilities.
3.3 Urbanisation 19
Urbanisation is growing in <strong>the</strong> Pacific, as it is elsewhere in <strong>the</strong> world. People are moving to urban
areas (i.e. rural townships, peri-urban and o<strong>the</strong>r settlements, capital cities) to access economic and social
opportunities that are not available in rural areas. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people migrating to urban areas do
not have adequate housing in <strong>the</strong> city, with many living in poverty in urban slums, where <strong>the</strong>y are
under a constant threat <strong>of</strong> eviction.
19
Based on presentation made by Sue Le Mesurier - see Annex C for <strong>the</strong> full power point presentation.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 37