UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on adequate housing undertakes official visit to Canada

Miloon Kothari, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, is currently undertaking an official visit to Canada, including stops in Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Lubicon and Kahnawake.

During his visit, Kothari will be examining and reporting on the status of the realization of the right to adequate housing and other related right in Canada, while paying particular attention to four issues: homelessness, women and adequate housing, indigenous peoples and adequate housing, as well as the effects of mega-events on housing, i.e. the upcoming 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

His visit will end on Monday October 22, when he will hold a press conference in Ottawa.

During the Special Rapporteur’s consultation in Ottawa, a number of women’s organizations expressed their concerns about the state adequate housing in Canada.

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, a non-profit organization that represents all Inuit women in Canada, seeks to foster greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women. They advocate for equity and social improvements and encourage women to participate in the 53 northern communities where Pauktuutit is present in order to advance the social, cultural, political and economic realities of women, their families and communities.

Pauktuutit’s presentation shed light on the disgraceful Inuit housing conditions in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Inuit currently have the highest rates of overcrowding of all Aboriginal groups in Canada. The dehumanizing living conditions that many Inuit face have been linked to substance abuse, family violence, elder abuse and child sexual abuse.

Pauktuutit emphasizes the need for the development and implementation of - in collaboration with Inuit and other stakeholders - a vigorous, comprehensive and coordinated federal/provincial/territorial housing policy which includes a substantial infusion of new funding and which takes into consideration annual increases reflecting population growth.

To download Pauktuutit’s presentation, please click here.
Presentation

To learn more about Pauktuutit and their initiatives please visit:
http://www.pauktuutit.ca/

To learn more about the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, and his visit to Canada, please visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/housing/index.htm