The Right to Adequate Housing in International Human Rights Law: Polish Transformation Experiences Terminski, Bogumil
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www.ssoar.info The right to adequate housing in international human rights law: Polish transformation experiences Terminski, Bogumil Veröffentlichungsversion / Published Version Zeitschriftenartikel / journal article Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Terminski, B. (2012). The right to adequate housing in international human rights law: Polish transformation experiences. Revista Latinoamericana de Derechos Humanos, 22(2), 219-241. https://nbn-resolving.org/ urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-328953 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer Deposit-Lizenz (Keine This document is made available under Deposit Licence (No Weiterverbreitung - keine Bearbeitung) zur Verfügung gestellt. Redistribution - no modifications). 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Sie dürfen dieses Dokument document in public, to perform, distribute or otherwise use the nicht in irgendeiner Weise abändern, noch dürfen Sie document in public. dieses Dokument für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke By using this particular document, you accept the above-stated vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, aufführen, vertreiben oder conditions of use. anderweitig nutzen. Mit der Verwendung dieses Dokuments erkennen Sie die Nutzungsbedingungen an. THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE HOUSING IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW: POLISH TRANSFORMATION EXPERIENCES BOGUMIL TERMINSKI1* Abstract Housing rights are now one of the most fundamental social and economic human rights. It is therefore the duty of every country to implement such rights for its own citizens, irrespective of its economic development, political situation, or social conditions. Possession of appropriate living conditions de- termines, in fact, the possibility of using other, more advanced human rights (e.g. the right to health, right to development, right to peace, or access to culture). Realization of the right to adequate hou- sing is increasingly problematic for developed countries. According to the United Nations, there are over 100 million homeless people worldwide and more than 1 billion inadequately housed. Poland is an example of a country particularly afflicted by housing problems after the Second World War. Experiences of Polish democratic transformation after 1989, therefore, provide interesting lessons (and warnings) for all countries wishing to deal with the social problems arising from housing diffi- culties. Keywords: right to adequate housing, human rights, housing rights, social transformation, transi- tion, economic and social human rights, social issues, Poland, United Nations, communism. Resumen El derecho a la vivienda es uno de los derechos humanos sociales y económicos más ele- mentales. Por lo tanto, es un deber de todos los países implementar esos derechos para sus ciudadanos y ciudadanas, independependientmente de su desarrollo económico, situa- ción política, o condiciones sociales. La posesión de adecuadas condiciones de vida deter- mina la posibilidad de utilizar otros derechos humanos más avanzados (por ejemplo, de- recho a la salud, derecho al desarrollo, derecho a la paz, acceso a la cultura). La realiza- ción del derecho a una vivienda adecuada es cada vez más problemática para los países de- sarrollados. Según las Naciones Unidas, hay más de 100 millones de personas sin hogar en todo el mundo y más de 1000 millones alojadas en viviendas inadecuadas. Polonia es ejem- 1* Nationality: Polish. Profession: Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Warsaw (international law), former fellow at The Gratuate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (2009-2010) (International Law Unit). Revista Latinoamericana de Derechos Humanos 22 219 Vol. 22 (2): 219, julio-diciembre, 2011 (ISSN: 1659-4304) Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2026699 Bogumil Terminski plo de un país particularmente afectado por los problemas de vivienda después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Experiencias de la transformación democrática de Polonia después de 1989 ofrecen lecciones interesantes (y advertencias) para todos los países que deseen hacer fren- te a los problemas sociales derivados de las dificultades de vivienda. Palabras clave: derecho a la vivienda, derechos humanos, transformación social, transición, derechos económicos y sociales, cuestiones sociales, Polonia, Naciones Unidas, comunismo. Introduction Organisation of American States) and numerous non-governmental organiza- In the past few years housing rights have tions (NGOs), including humanitarian become a major locus of activity in the profiles (such as the Centre for Housing field of economic and social human Rights and Evictions-COHRE, the rights. The growing importance of this Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, particular area of human rights is re- and others). flected not only in a rapidly increasing number of professional publications, Why have housing rights become in re- studies, and reports dealing with this cent years such an important area under subject, but primarily in significantly the rubric of the international protec- more distinct actions undertaken by in- tion of human rights? The answer to this ternational organizations and humani- question appears simple, but only at a tarian institutions. Decisions made un- superficial level. Without going into de- der the aegis of the United Nations sys- tails, it is necessary to take into account tem play a leading role in the protection several issues. of housing rights, especially in the form of discussions at the United Nations The most prominent catalyst for the de- General Assembly, United Nations velopment of housing rights in the last Economic and Social Council, Office several decades was an increase in world of the High Commissioner for Human population, and simultaneously the in- Rights, United Nations Housing Rights creased rate of urbanization. In the 70s Programme (UNHRP), and the United of the twentieth century, the planet’s Nations Human Settlement Program population was a little over three bi- (UN-HABITAT), operating since 1976. llion people; this figure is now near 6.8 In April 2000, the UN Commission on billion. The disparities in standards of Human Rights established the manda- living between different parts of the te of a Special Rapporteur on adequate world have become significantly stron- housing. Activities conducted for the ger, which translates to urbanization purpose of strengthening housing rights (Cook, 1987: 362; Allen, 2004: 62). are also related to regional intergover- Poverty clusters (also known as slums or nmental organisations (e.g. Council of favelas) are growing in certain nations, Europe, the African Union, and the and the phenomenon of homelessness 22 Revista Latinoamericana de Derechos Humanos 220 Vol. 22 (2): 220, julio-diciembre, 2011 (ISSN: 1659-4304) Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2026699 The right to adequate housing in international human rights law: Polish transformation experiences is more present than ever.1 Numerous between difficult housing conditions national as well as international armed and the increase of crime rate in many conflicts account for some violations regions of the world is well-known. This of fundamental housing rights (Leckie, suggests that poverty, marginalization, 2003: 37; Leckie, 2007: 148; Newman social exclusion, homelessness, and cri- and Schnabel, 2002: 169). Growing me are – to a great extent – intercon- scale of social exclusion and marginali- nected. Many problems of this particu- zation of the poorest in many regions of lar kind are observed in countries deli- the world is not unfortunately accompa- berately sustaining the division between nied by attempts of solving systematica- minority of the rich and majority of the lly the problem of housing. poor. Deepening social disproportions together with impossibility of economic Secondly, housing rights are one of the advancement create frustrations within most fundamental rights for the de- representatives of the next and inevi- velopment of every human being. For tably lost generation. The reluctance each person on the planet, home is an of state authorities of many developing essential space for the realization of so- countries toward introducing a compre- cial ties. Psychologists point out that hensive solution to problems linked to adequate housing is a key component redistribution of wealth is the basic obs- in the proper functioning of the family. tacle thwarting the realization of hou- Without adequate guarantees regarding sing rights. this matter (as well as the will of state authorities to take care of the issue), it The recently observed development is very hard to implement not only so- of international human rights shows cial and cultural rights but also some ba- us how far-reaching the implications sic civil and political rights (Ellickson, of the right to adequate