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Relatores Nacionais em Direitos Humanos são eleitos em Brasília
Nesta terça-feira (18/08/2009) foram eleitos os cinco especialistas que exercerão, nos próximos dois anos, a função de Relator Nacional em direitos humanos. Cada especialista irá trabalhar em um tema específico, como Direito Humano à Cidade, à Educação, ao Meio Ambiente, à Saúde – com ênfase em Direitos Sexuais e Reprodutivos – e à Terra, Território e Alimentação. O objetivo é que estes relatores monitorem a situação dos direitos humanos no país, através de investigação de denúncias, da averiguação in loco de violações emblemáticas e da publicação de relatórios e recomendações aos órgãos competentes.
Nairobi River Basin Programme, Problems and delays in the project
Photo: Francesco Fantini
Nairobi produces an average of 2,400 tons of garbage per day, of which only half is taken to the only municipal waste dump, Dandora, on the eastern edge of the city, whereas the other half is dumped in illegal sites here and there throughout the territory. These “secondary”, uncontrolled dumps are one of the major sources of pollution of the Nairobi River Basin, when the rains arrive and spread this blend of refuse along the banks of the river. This critical situation is made even worse by the liquid industrial waste discharged illegally into the river, with no regard for existing legislation on this issue, often under the collusion of the City Council, which does nothing to impede these bad practices, just as in the worst scenarios about pollution that one reads about in children’s books. The “green city in the sun” is not very green, when in fact, the only place which gives the illusion that there are no waste problems, is the city center, with its shining buildings and well tended gardens promoted through the City Council’s Beautification Programme.
Venezuela, Land Law benefit Popular Sectors
La Orquesta Sinfónica en el Barrio La Vega, Caracas
The Law on Urban Lands, approved this Friday morning by the National Assembly, is animating urban social development plans for families who have a right to a dignified dwelling, said the deputy Alberto Castelar, vice-president of the Commission of the Family, Women and Youth.
Independent UN expert sounds alarm on mass forced evictions in Nigeria
The waterfront widows begging government not do demolish their houses
13 August 2009 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today voiced her concerns at the mass evictions planned by the River State Government in Nigeria which could leave hundreds of thousands of people homeless over the coming year.“Forced evictions can only be justified in the most exceptional cases and in full compliance with international human rights law,” Raquel Rolnik, the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, said in a news release.
Milan gets behind Homeless World Cup
The Homeless World Cup baton passes from Melbourne (pictured) to Milan (©UEFA)
29 July 2009 - UEFA
The City of Milan and Italian partners welcomed the UEFA-backed Homeless World Cup to its next destination on Monday, with a vow to make the competition's seventh edition a "phenomenal success".
UN-HABITAT Iraq launches Programme to improve basic service and housing
The Ministry of Planning & Development Cooperation and UN-HABITAT jointly launched the HABITAT Iraq Country Programme for 2009-2011.Source: Government of Iraq; United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT)
The right to housing is essential in a democratic society, says Commissioner Hammarberg
Strasbourg, France, 30.06.2009 - “The right to housing is of central importance to the effective enjoyment of most human rights. States should ensure their implementation, in particular in times of economic crisis” said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, issuing a recommendation
on housing rights.
USA, Cities Deal With a Surge in Shanty Towns
An encampment of tents under an overpass in Fresno
By Jesse McKinley, New York Times - March 26, 2009FRESNO, Calif. - As the operations manager of a outreach center for the homeless here, Paul Stack is used to seeing people down on their luck. What he had never seen before was people living in tents and leantos on the railroad lot across from the center.
Mexico, Foro por el rescate del INFONAVIT
En esta semana (marzo, 2009) se va a presentar en las Cámara de Diputados y Senadores la iniciativa de reforma y adiciones a la ley del Infonavitpor parte del Grupo Patria (integrado por legisladores del PRD PT y Convergencia) y el CDV.
Papua New Guinea: Forced Evictions and destruction of property by Police in Porgera must end
Amnesty International calls for immediate action to protect more than 1,000 people who have been left homeless after police officials in Papua New Guinea forcibly evicted them by burning down their homes.AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - PUBLIC STATEMENT11 May 2009