Emphasis on the Right to Housing on World Habitat Day
United Nations officials emphasized on World Habitat Day that adequate housing is a fundamental human right, noting that more than three billion people lack appropriate shelter.
Gathering on the occasion of World Habitat Day, United Nations officials emphasized that the right to adequate housing is not a luxury and forms the basis of human dignity. Attention was drawn to millions of people living in difficult conditions.
Housing as a Fundamental Human Right
United Nations officials gathered on World Habitat Day to set the main theme of this year as Adequate Housing for All, emphasizing that housing is a fundamental right.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach stated that adequate housing is not a luxury, but the foundation of a dignified life and sustainable cities.
Millions of People Live in Slum Areas
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated in his message that more than three billion people worldwide are deprived of adequate housing, which is a universal human right.
It was reported that more than one billion people live in informal settlements and slums, while many others are homeless or displaced due to conflicts.
Inadequate Conditions and the Poverty Trap
Nga Kor Ming, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, stated that children of families deprived of legal protection, clean water, and basic sanitation face preventable diseases.
He emphasized that a structure lacking clean water, security, and legal guarantees is not a home, but rather represents a true poverty trap.
Criteria and Scope of Housing
Anacláudia Rossbach explained that, under the UN human rights framework, for a home to be considered adequate, it must meet seven criteria, including the availability of services, habitability, affordability, and accessibility.
She stated that the concept of adequate housing does not consist merely of four walls and a roof, and that if rents are excessively high, families cannot allocate budgets for food and education.
Sustainable Development and Social Peace
The UN Secretary-General stated that investing in adequate housing and transforming informal settlements reduces poverty and increases climate resilience.
He demanded that the international financial architecture be reformed and resources be provided for developing countries to make scaled investments in housing.
Urban October Campaign Begins
Celebrated on the first Monday of October every year, World Habitat Day marks the beginning of the Urban October campaign run by UN-Habitat, which continues until October thirty-first.