United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Miloon Kothari – Mission to Canada: 9– 22 October 2007

HIC

United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Miloon Kothari

Mission to Canada

9– 22 October 2007

Ottawa, 22 October 2007

Main Ottawa Public Library

Auditorium

This document includes some preliminary observations of the Special Rapporteur at the end of his visit and is not an official document. The final report on this visit will be presented to the Human Rights Council.

An overview of the right to adequate housing and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur can be found to the annex attached to this document.

UNEDITED VERSION

Introduction

Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for coming.

I am Miloon Kothari, the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Special Rapporteurs are independent experts in an honorary and unpaid position.

Today I am finishing a visit to Canada at the invitation of the Government of Canada that started on 9 October. The general objectives of this mission were to examine and report on the status of realization of the right to adequate housing in Canada and to engage in dialogues with the Government and the civil society – what you call in Canada non-governmental organizations – in their efforts to secure these rights.

I visited urban and rural areas, including Montréal, Kahnawake territories, Edmonton, Little Buffalo and Lubicon, Vancouver, Musqueam territories, Toronto and Ottawa. In these locations, I met with high-ranking officials and representatives of various Government agencies. I also took testimonies from many women, men, youth and children across the country that were homeless or living in adequate and insecure housing; I met with community-based housing and homelessness service providers, housing agencies, representatives of Aboriginal peoples and civil society organizations. In all cities I participated in large public forums and hearings.

The right to adequate housing contains many essential elements. I have focused this mission on a number of areas including homelessness, problems of inadequate and secure housing and living conditions, women and their right to adequate housing, Aboriginal populations’ adequate housing and the impact of the forthcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver.

This statement provides my preliminary observations based on visits conducted and information received during the mission.

To dowload full report click here.