The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released its publication entitled Women and the Right to Adequate Housing. This publication provides an overview of the meaning, intent and implications of the human right to adequate housing, and illustrates de jure and de facto obstacles to women worldwide enjoying this right effectively.

Mayra Gomez, Co-Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provided input into the publication, and hopes that it is used as a tool by women's rights advocates worldwide.

The publication is divided into four substantive sections.  Following the introduction, chapter I describes the international legal and policy frameworks for the implementation of women’s right to adequate housing, including human rights treaties, the principles of non-discrimination and equality and the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights.  Chapter II outlines the main underlying causes, ranging from discriminatory statutory laws to customary laws and practices and lack of access to legal and other remedies.  Finally, chapter III elaborates on a number of selected issues such as forced evictions, degraded living conditions, and cultural and religious recognition of women’s rights, underlining regional similarities and differences.

There are examples of initiatives by women and women’s groups around the world to address the general and specific issues faced by women in their struggle for social rights, illustrating the strength and creativity of individual women and communities that have responded to violations of women’s rights to adequate housing, land and inheritance.  There are also many examples of projects undertaken by communities, sometimes in conjunction with States, to positively address the needs and violations of women’s rights.  Some are highlighted in this publication.  Its aim is therefore twofold: to shed light on the main obstacles to women’s full enjoyment of the right to adequate housing; and offer guidance about measures to prevent and eradicate discrimination, including violence, against women in housing rights.

The full publication can be accessed HERE.