September 16, 2013
by Raquel Rolnik
I have just completed a two-week official mission to look into the housing situation in the UK – an issue which is at the heart of many UK residents. The visit has generated debate by part of some MPs from the Conservative Party and especially of one English tabloid.
I would like to note with appreciation the welcoming and professional approach, and good cooperation I received from all the central, devolved and local government officials during my visits to discuss a variety of housing issues in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Manchester.
In the first paragraph of my press statement, I stated that the UK has historically featured “one of the world’s finest systems of affordable housing,” and expressed concern that it was being eroded.
I am one of 72 separate independent experts, or groups of experts, with specific mandates based on international human rights law, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.
The right to adequate housing – my mandate – is enshrined in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It is my job to examine the housing situation around the world and defend the housing rights of all individuals, including people in the UK. Special Rapporteurs like myself work on a voluntary basis: we receive no salary whatsoever from the United Nations. Only our expenses are covered during official missions.
The UK is one of the countries which have issued a standing invitation to all Special Procedures to visit the country to examine the human rights situations and to hold dialogues with the Government and other stakeholders. Nevertheless, any visit by a Special Rapporteur, must be preceded by a specific invitation linked to a date, which the government, in conversations with the Rapporteur, sets. I have been holding discussions about this visit with the UK Government since November 2012, and received a formal acceptance letter for a visit in September from the UK authorities on 31 January 2013.
I followed the normal rules and procedures of any Special Rapporteur visiting any country to investigate any issue: we depend on the invitations of governments and the preparation of an agenda made by the government that is in charge of identifying officials and politicians with whom we meet during the mission, from a list of relevant themes to the mission presented by the Rapporteur.
Another key element in all such visits, besides the contact with the government, is to talk to civil society and experts – these included members of housing and human rights organizations, academics and lawyers involved in housing issues – and, very importantly, with individuals who believe that their rights have been violated or ignored on field visits and public hearings.
Under the stablished rules for such visits, these meetings are confidential. In some countries, this is vital to avoid putting people at risk for talking to a Special Rapporteur.
We have been appointed by the Human Rights Council based on our expertise. My nationality is of no relevance to my work as a Special Rapporteur. My focus is on how to address the housing issues in the UK in a way that respects the human rights of people living in the UK, as in any other countries that I have visited.
I have received, and continue to receive, hundreds of written and oral testimonies, which, together with reports from well-established UK research centres and the information I received, and will continue to receive from government officials, will be crucial elements in my full report which I will present to the Human Rights Council in March 2014.
The visit was extremely informative and I believe it helped to highlight both progress and important challenges. I look forward to continuing to engage in a robust and respectful dialogue with all stakeholders.
christopher baines says: 