Building on the momentum of the campaign launched on World Habitat Day, this World Day for the Right to the City, Habitat International Coalition and the Global Platform for the Right to the City double our efforts to promote and protect habitat rights defenders.
In recent years, the struggle for habitat and human rights has been the cause of persecution and criminalisation by powerful forces that treat land, housing and the city as commodities. This october, we join forces in order to bring global attention to the violence suffered by those that stand up for our rights to housing, land and right to the city.
We invite all movements and organizations to share cases of defenders, especially women, who are under threat so that we can raise awareness and solidarity around the world. In the map bellow, you can see some of the cases gathered so far. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Use the form in this page to share other cases with us.
Impacts of the World Day for the
#RightToTheCity digital campaign
AN INITIATIVE OF
Defenders of habitat human rights threatened around the world
HABITAT RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Figures for 2018 indicate that 164 persons defending their habitat and environmental rights were murdered. This conforms with a shocking global trend that saw land defender killings triple from 2015 to 2016.
As stated in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, authorities in all spheres of government bear the obligation to take all the necessary measures to bring an end to these murders, incarcerations and threats, to provide adequate justice and to protect thosewho defend not only the rights of people and the territories they inhabit. This is why we launch this campaign!
SHARE YOUR CASES
Throughout october, we will be gathering cases of defenders, especially women, who are under threat and update the information in this page.
In order to make this list as complete as possible, we invite you to send us cases you might be aware of through this form.
If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to write us at comunicacion.hical@gmail.com.
WORLD DAY FOR THE RIGHT TO THE CITY
On October 31st, we celebrate the World Day for the Right to the City, reinterpreting the United Nations designation of World Cities Day.
We understand the Right to the City as the right of all inhabitants, present and future, permanent and temporary, to inhabit, use, occupy, produce, transform, govern and enjoy cities, towns and human settlements that are just, inclusive, safe, sustainable and democratic, defined as common goods for enjoying life with dignity and peace.
Read our full statement on the World Day for the Right to the City.
WORLD HABITAT DAY
The first Monday in October of each year is commemorated as World Habitat Day or World Homeless Day. All those who stand in defense of the human rights to housing, land and right to the city, have adopted these dates to remind fellow citizens of the millions who do not have decent housing or opportunities to access land in most countries.
Due to the alarming threats to human and habitat rights defenders around the world we have chosen to highlight these cases this WHD, launching a campaign to promote and protect habitat defenders.
