Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

Considering the right to adequate housing as "one of the fundamental elements for human dignity, physical and mental health and overall quality of life", the UN Commission on Human Rights appointed in 2000 Mr Miloon Kothari as the first ever Special Rapporteur on adequate housing. 

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is to focus on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living. In fulfilling his/her mandate, the Special Rapporteur undertakes a variety of activities, including country visits and responding to information received on allegations concerning the situation of housing rights in specific countries. He/she also develops dialogue with relevant stakeholders and submits annual reports on the activities relating to his/her mandate to the Human Rights Council. 

The nature and scope of States Parties obligations under ICESCR was set out by the Special Rapporteur on promoting the realization of the right to adequate housing, Mr. Rajindar Sachar, in the Progress Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing (1993).

Since May 2008 Ms Raquel Rolnikis the new UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing.

See: 

• Report to UN HRC, 2008. A/HRC/7/16
• REport to UN HRC, 2009. A/HRC/13/20