[cure-news] UN Experts concerned about demolition of public housing in New Orleans

[Ida Hakim]

*UN Experts call on U.S. Government to halt ongoing evictions and to 
take immediate steps to protect the human rights of African-Americans 
affected by Hurricane Katrina and the demolition of public housing in 
New Orleans, Louisiana*

/The United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a 
component of the right to an adequate standard of living,/ /and on the 
right to non-discrimination in this context, Miloon Kothari, and the UN 
Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall, issued the 
following statement today:/

*Geneva, 28 February 2008: -- *We are deeply concerned about information 
we continue to receive about the housing situation of people in New 
Orleans, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. African-American 
communities were badly affected by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. 
The spiraling costs of private housing and rental units, and in 
particular the demolition of public housing, puts these communities in 
further distress, increasing poverty and homelessness. There are reports 
that more than 12,000 people are homeless in the greater New Orleans 
metropolitan area alone.

A number of reports suggest that federal, led by the U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, and local government decisions concerning 
public housing in New Orleans would lead to the demolition of thousands 
of public housing units affecting approximately 5,000 families who were 
displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The demolition of the St. Bernard public 
housing development apparently commenced the week of 18 February 2008 
and others are planned for the Lafitte, B.W. Cooper, and C.J. Peete 
public housing developments.

Meaningful consultation and participation in decision-making of 
communities and families affected by these demolitions and related 
redevelopment proposals appears not to have taken place. While we 
understand the intention to replace the demolished housing, we 
understand that only a portion of the new housing units will be for 
residents in need of subsidized housing and the remainder will be 
offered at the market rate. Further, we understand that the new housing 
will not be available for a significant period of time nor will there be 
one for one replacement for housing units destroyed. These demolitions, 
therefore, could effectively deny thousands of African-American 
residents their right to return to housing from which they were 
displaced by the hurricane.

The authorities claim that the demolition of public housing is not 
intentionally discriminatory. Notwithstanding the validity of these 
claims, the lack of consultation with those affected and the 
disproportionate impact on poorer and predominantly African-American 
residents and former residents would result in the denial of 
internationally recognized human rights.

The right to an adequate standard of living enshrined in the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights includes the right to adequate housing. The 
international community has made it clear that those displaced from 
their place of residence, whether by conflict or natural disaster, 
should have their rights particularly protected in reconstruction 
efforts. The inability of former residents of public housing to return 
to the homes they occupied prior to Hurricane Katrina would in practice 
amount to an eviction for those who returned or wish to return. 
International human rights law prohibits evictions from taking place 
without due process, including the right of those evicted to be given 
due notice and opportunity to appeal eviction decisions. It also 
requires the authorities to ensure that large-scale evictions do not 
result in massive homelessness and to consult those affected on 
relocation or alternative housing solutions.

International human rights law, including relevant provisions of the 
International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 
also clearly prohibits actions that result in a discriminatory impact 
denying individuals or group?s equal enjoyment of human rights because 
of their race, ethnicity, social or other status.

We therefore call on the Federal Government and State and local 
authorities to immediately halt the demolitions of public housing in New 
Orleans. This measure should be accompanied by all measures ensuring 
genuine consultation and participation of current residents - or former 
residents wishing to return - in all relevant decisions. We also call on 
the authorities to ensure that redevelopment plans do not discriminate 
against former residents and that every effort is made to consider 
alternatives to demolition or redevelopment proposals, so as to protect 
the rights of the poorer and predominantly African-American communities 
displaced by Hurricane Katrina.


*****



The above mentioned UN independent experts sent a letter to the US 
Government on 17 December 2007 in regard to this situation noting their 
concern about allegations received and asking for further information. 
They encourage the authorities to give urgent attention to this issue 
and consider alternative proposals, such as those reflected in the 
provisions of draft Senate Bill 1668, which would be more protective of 
the rights of the more vulnerable groups affected by the Hurricane.

/For further information on the mandate and work of the Special 
Rapporteur on adequate housing and the Independent Expert on minority 
issues, please consult respectively the following websites: 
/_http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/housing/index.htm 
<http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/housing/index.htm>_ /and 
/_http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/expert/index.htm 
<http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/minorities/expert/index.htm>_