Public consultation: “Security of tenure: cornerstone of the right to adequate housing”, October 24th

“Security of tenure: cornerstone of the right to adequate housing”

Consultation organized by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik

Palais des Nations, Room XI, 24 October 2012

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has the honour to invite States, intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other interested stakeholders to attend a public consultation convened by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Ms. Raquel Rolnik, on “Security of tenure: cornerstone of the right to adequate housing”.

The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 15/8, requested the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing to:

“Identify best practices as well as challenges and obstacles to the full realization of the right to adequate housing, and identify protection gaps in this regard;

Give particular emphasis to practical solutions with regard to the implementation of the rights relevant to the mandate;

Pay special attention to the needs of persons in vulnerable situations as well as those belonging to marginalized groups.”

The Special Rapporteur believes that one of the key challenges to the full realization of the right to adequate housing is the lack of security of tenure, which leaves many individuals and groups, such as those living in informal settlements, in very vulnerable situations. The Special Rapporteur’s previous reports to the Human Rights Council (HRC/16/42) and the General Assembly (A/66/270) on post-conflict and post-disaster settings – and reactions to the reports from Governments and other stakeholders – confirmed this assessment.

The Special Rapporteur will dedicate her forthcoming report to the Human Rights Council (to be presented at the Council’s 22nd session) to the issue of security of tenure. In her report she will examine the concept of security of tenure under international human rights law, and map out existing forms and systems of tenure worldwide, as well as relevant policies and practices at local, national and international level that ensure or improve tenure security.

In order to benefit from diverse views and perspectives and inform her report, the Special Rapporteur will organize a public consultation on “Security of tenure: cornerstone of the right to adequate housing”. The consultation will provide an opportunity for the Special Rapporteur to give a briefing on her work, and for States, intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other interested stakeholders to contribute their views.

Logistical Information

The consultation will take place in Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Room XI, on Wednesday 24 October 2012, from 10:00 to 13:00. The consultation will be held in English, with simultaneous interpretation from and to French and Spanish based on interpreters’ availability.

If you do not have a badge to enter Palais des Nations, please send an email message to: tenureproject@ohchr.org, indicating that your name should be placed on the list with Security. Please ensure additional time to obtain accreditation.