Two United Nations experts on human rights to water and sanitation and adequate housing have expressed concern over the increasing number of homeless people in Cork city and their lack of access to water and sanitation. Over 700 people are homeless in the city of approximately 120,000 inhabitants.
The experts noted that while the Government provides some public emergency shelters, access to water and sanitation were inadequate. This was particularly so in light of the fact that some of the shelters did not open until the evening, leaving users without access to water and sanitation facilities during the day. The experts found it worrying that there have been no free and adequate public installations for water or public toilets in Cork for the past 10 years.
The experts stressed that – according to international human rights law – all levels of government are under an obligation, to provide urgent measures, including financial assistance, to ensure access to affordable housing and essential levels of drinking water and sanitation services. Commenting on the position UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing Leilani Farha, noted that the number of homeless people had risen in the past few years due to the lack of affordable housing and impact of austerity measures. To read more about the report please click here.
FLAC recently published two guides for civil society actors and individuals wishing to engage with international human rights mechanisms. The first is a guide for civil society organisations to engage with UN Special Procedures mandate holders. Mandate holders are independent human rights experts who report on human rights situations in specific countries or on certain thematic human rights issues. The guides outline how civil society organisations and individuals can engage with these mechanisms and the criteria which must be satisfied in order to do so. The guides also contain a number of examples of how mandate holders have sought to highlight human rights issues in Ireland, including transgender rights, the right to housing and the rights of those living in poverty.
The second is a guide for individuals taking complaints to UN Treaty Bodies as well as civil society actors taking cases on their behalf. UN Treaty Bodies are committees of independent experts which are responsible for monitoring compliance with international human rights treaties. The guides detail which mechanisms people in Ireland can access, the procedures involved and the requirements which must be fulfilled. There are also two case studies on complaints which have been brought against Ireland to the UN Human Rights Committee.