This publication details COHRE's work up until 2005 in solving the global housing rights crisis.
About us
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is an independent, international, non-governmental, not-for-profit human rights organisation whose mission is to ensure the full enjoyment of the human right to adequate housing for everyone, everywhere.
Established in 1994, COHRE is now the leading international human rights organisation working for the protection of housing rights and the prevention of forced evictions around the world.
With its International Secretariat based in Geneva, COHRE has offices in Africa, Latin American and Asia.
COHRE works closely with an extensive network of partner organisations and community activists around the world, without whose involvement and support COHRE's work would not be possible.
COHRE applies a human rights approach to housing with a view to redressing violations of housing rights, promoting compliance with international standards and preventing future infringements of housing rights.As a leader in the field of ESC Rights, COHRE adds value to the work of national groups around the world through its research and documentation; public education, training and capacity building; and advocacy and litigation work before domestic, regional and international mechanisms and courts concerned with these rights.
COHRE was granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in 1999.
At the UN, COHRE works closely with various bodies and agencies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); UN-HABITAT (the United Nations Human Settlements Programme); the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR); the UN Development Programme (UNDP); the UN Human Rights Council; and the other UN treaty-bodies and special procedures mandate holders.
COHRE also has consultative status with the Organization of American States (OAS), enabling it to participate in OAS activities in an official capacity, including lodging petitions before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
In Africa, COHRE has observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which allows it to submit petitions before the Commission and participate in the Commission's human rights monitoring mechanisms.
In Europe, COHRE has participatory status with the Council of Europe (CoE), allowing it to appear before and make submissions to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Committee on Social Rights (ECSR).
The organisation has a Board of Directors made up of highly respected leaders in their fields. COHRE is also able to seek advice from prominent human rights experts on its Advisory Board.
In 2001, COHRE received UN-HABITAT's "Scroll of Honour Award" for its "commitment to a human rights approach as a basis for alleviating homelessness and inadequate housing and for combatting arbitrary forced evictions worldwide." The Scroll of Honour is the most prestigious human settlements award in the world.
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