Press Releases

Roma evictions/expulsions: “France must comply with international non-discrimination standards”

Published in Thursday August 30th, 2012

United Nations human rights experts urged the French Government to ensure that its policies and practices regarding the dismantling of Roma settlements and the expulsion of migrant Roma conform in all respects to European and international human rights law relating to non-discrimination. “Evictions continue and threaten to place families in highly vulnerable situations,” stressed the Special Rapporteurs on minority issues, migrants, housing and racism.

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“Resettlement and land reform, key challenges for the consolidation of peace and stability in Rwanda”

Published in Saturday July 14th, 2012 In News

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, today highlighted the issues of resettlement of people and land reform as two of the main challenges for the consolidation of peace and stability in Rwanda.

UN housing rights expert to visit to Rwanda – 5-13 July 2012

Published in Tuesday July 3rd, 2012 In News

During her nine-day visit, Ms Rolnik will meet with Government officials, human rights groups and other stakeholders. “This will be a great opportunity to look into how the most densely populated nation in Africa is managing land and housing issues in a way that takes into account equality and non-discrimination,” the Special Rapporteur said.

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USA: “Moving away from the criminalization of homelessness, a step in the right direction”

Published in Monday April 23rd, 2012 In News

Three United Nations human rights experts on extreme poverty, housing, and water and sanitation welcomed a groundbreaking federal report in the United States of America which recognizes that the criminalization of homelessness may violate the human rights of homeless persons. The study by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the U.S. Department of Justice condemns the criminalization of homelessness and recommends effective alternative practices and policies to reduce and prevent homelessness.

Press Release: “Let’s not accept another lost generation of Roma” – say UN experts

Published in Thursday April 5th, 2012

“We should not accept yet another lost generation of Roma girls and boys whose only expectations are lives of poverty, discrimination and exclusion and whose futures are dictated by negative stereotypes which commonly go unchallenged.”

Press release: Bangladesh open-pit coal mine threatens fundamental rights, warn UN experts

Published in Tuesday February 28th, 2012 In News on the Rapporteurs

GENEVA (28 February 2012) – “The Government of Bangladesh must ensure that any policy concerning open-pit coal mining includes robust safeguards to protect human rights. In the interim, the Phulbari coal mine should not be allowed to proceed because of the massive disruptions it is expected to cause,” said today a group of United Nations independent experts.

Press Release: Hungary’s homeless need roofs, not handcuffs – UN experts on poverty and housing

Published in Friday February 17th, 2012 In News on the Rapporteurs

GENEVA (15 February 2012) – Two UN human rights experts on extreme poverty and on housing called on Hungary to reconsider recent legislation which criminalizes homelessness, and threatens those living in the streets with prosecution that can lead heavy fines or to prison.

Press Release: “Israel’s policies violate right to housing and need urgent revision”

Published in Monday February 13th, 2012 In News on the Rapporteurs

Raquel Rolnik, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, has said that “after the recent privatization, deregulation and commercialization of public assets in Israel, urban and housing policies have made it increasingly difficult for low income families to obtain affordable accommodation, violating their right to adequate housing.”

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Press Release: UN Special Rapporteur to visit Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Published in Wednesday February 1st, 2012 In News

GENEVA – The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, will visit Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 29 January to 12 February 2012. Among other issues, the mission will examine challenges in access to adequate housing and housing affordability, the situation of groups vulnerable to discrimination, forced evictions and access to construction materials.

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PRESS RELEASE – Who bears the brunt of climate change? The poor, as usual

Published in Monday October 3rd, 2011

GENEVA (3 October 2011) Not much to celebrate on World Habitat Day,
when close to a third of the global population continues to live in slums
and unplanned settlements, often located in areas exposed to serious environmental
risks and hazards,? said the UN Special Rapporteurs on Housing, Raquel
Rolnik, and on Internally Displaced Persons, Chaloka Beyani.