Annotation:
While recognized as a universal human
right, a lack of adequate housing persists
in all areas of the world. Based on the
work of both United Nations Special
Rapporteurs on adequate housing, this
report provides a globalized conceptual
framework for this right. The authors
survey the legal framework of this issue,
derived from various international
declarations, human rights treaties,
global conferences and regional
instruments. Several factors contribute to
women being disproportionately denied
access to adequate housing, including
discriminatory laws and customary
practices, policies which fail to account
for womens specific circumstances, biased
attitudes, a lack of access to remedies
and a lack of awareness of rights and
participation in decision making. Specific
examples of disproportionate effects
appear in the context of inheritance,
living conditions, forced evictions,
domestic violence, HIV/AIDS and natural
disasters. This report references numerous
other materials useful to further
exploration of this issue.