A/HRC/54/30
of work and descent are more likely to experience homelessness. 22 Deep-rooted racial and
caste-based discrimination undoubtedly play a part, as many of such people are not able to
acquire access to high-quality education, decent work, affordable housing and essential
public services. 23 Similarly, migrants, particularly those in irregular situations, face an
increased risk of becoming homeless, as they are often not entitled to public housing or other
social and financial benefits, such as preferential housing loans, compared with citizens,
sometimes due to discriminatory policies and regulations. 24 In addition, some States are
taking active steps to criminalize renting homes to migrants in an irregular situation, which
is pushing hundreds of thousands of them into homelessness.25 When housing is provided as
part of a work contract, such as for domestic workers, the risk of becoming homeless in case
of the termination of employment is particularly high. Inadequate and/or harsh housing or
living conditions in certain sectors dominated by migrant workers are an additional risk
factor.26
29.
In addition, displaced persons, including internally displaced persons, refugees and
asylum-seekers, inevitably experience homelessness until they have access to a durable
alternative and adequate housing solution. They are forced to leave their home and
community because of events such as persecution and other gross violations of human rights
inflicted by States or other actors, armed conflict, terrorism, natural disasters, the climate
crisis and unemployment caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. 27 In
countries of destination, access to affordable and safe housing, education, decent work and
public services is often limited, 28 increasing the risk of homelessness and contemporary
forms of slavery. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in temporary accommodations
are particularly vulnerable, as they can easily be targeted by criminals and others for
exploitation.29 The victims of human trafficking should also be included in this category, as
they are coercively and/or deceptively moved internally and externally for sexual and labour
exploitation and often find themselves in situations of homelessness. 30
30.
Similarly, indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected by homelessness. This
has been observed in several States, including Australia, Cambodia, Canada and New
Zealand. 31 In addition to the causes already mentioned, the dispossession of their lands,
territories and resources through land grabs, forced eviction or displacement 32 is the key
contributing factor to homelessness among indigenous peoples. The Special Rapporteur on
the rights of Indigenous Peoples has noted previously that homelessness among members of
this group should encompass the entirety of the indigenous experience, including isolation
from family, community, land, water, language, culture and identity. 33 Those living in urban
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
6
CERD/C/BRA/CO/18-20, para. 24; CERD/C/IRL/CO/5-9, para. 27; CERD/C/USA/CO/10-12, para.
39; and submissions from Rights Lab, the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and
Descent and the European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network.
See A/HRC/41/54/Add.2, A/HRC/42/59/Add.1, A/HRC/44/57/Add.1, A/HRC/45/44/Add.2,
A/HRC/51/54/Add.1 and A/HRC/51/54/Add.2.
CERD/C/IRL/CO/5-9, para, 27; CMW/C/CPV/CO/1-3, para. 61; and submissions from the Cepaim
Foundation, the Global Alliance against Traffic in Women and Migrant Workers’ Action.
See, for example, communication PER 6/2022. All communications mentioned in the present report
are available from https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/Tmsearch/TMDocuments.
Submissions from Dr Jesse Hohmann, the European Federation of National Organisations Working
with the Homeless, Migrant Workers’ Action and Mission d’intervention et de sensibilisation contre
la traite des êtres humains; and consultations with stakeholders in Australia.
A/77/494, paras. 36–38; A/HRC/51/6, paras. 52–54; A/77/190, para. 55; A/77/226, paras. 32 and 56;
A/74/183, paras. 41–44; A/75/148, para. 4; and submissions from the City of Houston Mayor’s Office
of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence and Baylor College of Medicine–Harris Health.
A/HRC/48/52; and submissions from the Fenix Youth Project and Lawyers for Justice in Libya.
Submissions from the Consortium for Street Children, Child Labour: Action-Research-Innovation in
South and South-Eastern Asia, the Council of Women’s and Infants’ Specialty Hospitals and Lorraine
van Blerk.
Submission from the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of
Malta.
A/76/202, paras. 26 and 31; E/C.12/AUS/CO/5, para. 42; CERD/C/KHM/CO/14-17, para. 27;
A/HRC/47/43/Add.1, para. 62; and A/HRC/48/74, para. 53.
A/74/183, paras. 2 and 5.
A/76/202, para. 31.
GE.23-12640
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