US, Russia and Sudan named worst offenders in violating right to housing
GENEVA, Nov 24 (AFP) — The United States, Sudan and Russia were the worst offenders in breaking the basic right to housing due to their role in conflicts which have forced hundreds of thousands from their homes and domestic policies fuelling homelessness, a rights watchdog said Wednesday.
The three governments stood out for their “appalling disregard” for a basic human right, said Scott Leckie, the executive director of the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), a non-governmental organisation.
COHRE estimates that one billion people are inadequately housed in the world and 100 million are homeless on any given night, while more than 20 million people are forcibly evicted without any legal recourse every year.
“We are mired in a perpetual housing rights crisis,” Leckie told journalists.
About 2.3 million people are homeless in the United States, where programmes to help those without shelter have been cut while major cities across the country have effectively been criminalising homelessness, according to COHRE.
“It’s a disgrace that literally millions of people live on city streets or in homeless shelters in the wealthiest nation in the world,” Leckie said.
“The US remains alone in its systematic written policy opposing the very existence of the right to adequate housing under international human rights law.”
COHRE also highlighted US military action in Iraq, notably the bombing of the city of Fallujah during an ongoing offensive against insurgents.
“By carrying out forced evictions and demolitions to collectively punish Iraqis who did not readily submit to occupation, US forces violated the Geneva Conventions,” Leckie said.
The Geneva-based rights group slated Sudan’s role in the strife-torn western region of Darfur over the past year, where government backed janjaweed militia have attacked and pillaged villages.
“This scorched earth policy, which has led to the mass displacement of more than 1.6 million people from their lands and homes in Darfur, is clear evidence of complete disregard for human rights,” Leckie said.
“One point we’re trying to show with Sudan is simply that all of those who suffer ethnic cleansing are basically first assaulted through forced eviction,” he added.
Russian forces had a hand in the destruction of homes in Chechnya during the conflict with rebels there, while the recent return of about 100,000 displaced Chechens was obtained through “harassement and threats”, according to COHRE.
The group also cited rising homelessness in Russia since the end of communism, with about 6.8 million people now estimated to be living on the street or without permanent shelter.