HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

2nd session
Geneva , Switzerland 

Statement by the International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific on the report of Special Rapporteur on Housing

22 September 2006

• Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am Anuradha Rao and I speak on behalf of The International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW) based in Malaysia. We build capacity for the progressive interpretation, universalisation, implementation and realisation of the human rights of women through the lens of CEDAW and other international human rights treaties. We have a significant presence in 12 countries of South and Southeast Asia with some work being carried out in East Asia , the Pacific and Central Asia . We have also facilitated the participation of women from 102 countries at the CEDAW review process.
• We commend the approach of the Special Rapporteur in integrating a gender perspective into the monitoring and reporting dimensions of his mandate, recognizing the indivisibility of rights. His report underscores the multiple forms of discrimination that women face and the linkages between housing and other issues such as violence against women; land, property and inheritance; economic rights; the manner in which religious and customary laws particularly disadvantage women etc. Such an approach is necessary for all mandate holders to follow to highlight the vulnerable position that multiple discrimination places women in; and to mainstream gender in their work, as is the stated objective of the UN.
• We support the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Housing, and the suggestions he has made for follow-up on these.
• We urge Members of the Council to continue to support the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Housing; and to give priority to implementing the recommendations he has made. In particular, we support the recommendation that Members of the Council ratify the Optional Protocol to CEDAW and ensure that an effective Optional protocol to the ICESCR is drafted and adopted speedily. We also support the recommendation that States harmonize provisions in international human rights instruments and religious and customary law and practice in relation to women’s equal rights to housing, land, property and inheritance.
• We appreciate the Special Rapporteur’s presentation of the findings of his report on women and housing to the CEDAW Committee. We would like to know if, and how, he proposes to work with the Committee on a continuing basis – does he, for example, integrate their concluding comments in his report
• Another question is, whether the Special Rapporteur could identify the necessity for temporary special measures (as specified in article 4.1 of the Convention and GR 25 of CEDAW) that need to be undertaken by states for women to realize their right to housing. We would also like him to examine and highlight the links between women's right to political participation, and participation in public policy formulation and their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including that of housing.

 Thank you.

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