Too often, local governments stigmatize and criminalize those without housing, rather than complying with their obligation to fulfill the right to housing. Governments’ response compounds the problem for those who are unhoused by frequently limiting their mobility within the city and making life even harder for them as they struggle to find shelter.
As the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approaches, we are looking at how the right to housing enshrined in the UDHR’s Article 25 has (or hasn’t) been respected, protected and fulfilled in the United States.
Earlier this year, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights Soledad García Muñoz visited Los Angeles. She issued a report of her findings concerning the situation of persons experiencing homelessness in the US, with a special focus on LA County. During this event, García Muñoz will present her report and we’ll hear responses and updates on the situation’s progress towards realizing human rights from:
Shawn Pleasants
Lived Experience Advisory Board for LAHSA(Participating in his individual capacity, not on behalf of LAHSA)
Sonia Verdugo
Ground Game
Kim Reeder
ACA 10 Coalition
Moderation by John Raphling
Human Rights Watch
Response by Eunisses Hernandez
LA City Councilmember, District 1
This event was co-sponsored by Human Rights Watch and the ACLU of Southern California.