Mexico City, October 23, 2013
To the activists for the right
to housing and the right to the city
To international public opinion
To the media
To the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing
To the UN-Habitat Executive Director
To the UCLG General Secretariat
On behalf of the Habitat International Coalition
(HIC), a global network composed of more than 350 organizations in 120
countries around the world, working for 37 years for the promotion, protection
and full realization of the right to housing and the right to the city, we
strongly condemn, repudiate and make an international complaint against the
crackdown on the demonstrators on October 19, in the Place de la République in
Paris, France.
We have received reports and seen videos on the
internet showing the obvious abuses committed by CRS on DAL (Droit au Logement – Right to Housing in
French) activists and their supporters, resulting in many serious injuries,
including to spokesperson Jean- Baptiste Eyraud, who suffered two broken ribs,
as well as women, children and elderly people who had to be urgently
transferred to hospitals.
The activities which occurred in Paris on October
19 were held as part of a European day of struggle for the right to housing and
the right to the city against speculation and profit which consisted of
coordinated activities in different cities in 20 European countries, in which
HIC participated. We once again reaffirm our commitment and solidarity with
these organizations and individuals and reject the increasing criminalization
of social protests against those who defend their rights in different parts of
the world, regardless of government regimes or political party affiliations of
current authorities in power.
Adequate housing and access to the city are
rights, not goods, and States are obliged to respect, protect and fully ensure
them, in accordance with the principles of universality and non-discrimination,
by allocating as many available resources as necessary. It is unacceptable to
allow only a few people to speculate and accumulate wealth, while others are
left in the streets and unemployed. The repression of these people for
organizing and protesting to defend their rights is even more unacceptable.
Using the authority granted by our network’s Special
Consultative Status with the United Nations, we will monitor these events and
will lodge corresponding complaints with the international community.
No more repression! No more profit! The right to housing and the right to the
city for all!
Lorena Zárate
President
