City of Ghent joins international initiative for the right to adequate housing

On the occasion of an informal visit by UN Special Rapporteur Leilani Farha, the city of Ghent officially commits to implementing the right to adequate housing in conformity with international human rights law.

Ghent joins the growing group of municipalities, including Barcelona, Berlin, Seoul, Paris, London or New York City*, that have become part of ‘The Shift’, a multi-stakeholder initiative led by the UN Special Rapporteur Farha, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

Welcoming Ghent’s move, Birgit Van Hout, UN Human Rights Regional Representative for Europe emphasized the central place of the right to housing in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its role as a lever for the realisation of many other human rights.

*Full list: Barcelona, Berlin, Seoul, Madrid, Montevideo, Paris, London, New York City, Plaines Communes, Greater Manchester, Durban, Amsterdam, and Mexico City

More information on Twitter and Facebook

Interesting links

2018 is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Up for Human Rights:

http://www.standup4humanrights.org/

Contact

• Tom Sierens, woordvoerder schepen Sven Taeldeman, tel. 09 266 50 33, e-mail tom.sierens@stad.gent

• Tomás Goldstein, outreach & communications coordinator United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, tel. 02 274 01 70, e-mail tomasgoldstein.consultant@ohchr.org

Responsible