UN-HABITAT’s International Advisory Group Investigates Forced Evictions in Argentina
Playón de Chacarita, 3 de agosto de 2009
On August 2, 2009, members of the International Advisory Group on Forced Evictions (AGFE) arrived in Argentina to investigate cases in Buenos Aires, Viedma, Allen and Ushuaia.
This first visit by the International Authorities to Argentina demonstrates a growing concern in the international community about the insecurity of housing in the country. This issue has been brought to the forefront by Habitat Network Argentina, the International Alliance of Inhabitants, COHRE and other mobilized institutions of cities under scrutiny, including legislators from various provinces and civil society organizations.
The delegation (which is now in Argentina) will begin the tour in the Asentamiento del Playón de Chacarita, Fraga 828 at 10:00 AM.
In effect, AGFE advises the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT on ways to solve, and promote alternatives to, forced evictions; this means avoiding violations of the right to housing which is protected by international laws. In particular, this right is addressed in article 11 of the International Pact on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which has been ratified and put into law in Argentina.
The experts include: Cesare Ottolini (International Alliance of Inhabitants, Italy), Carlos Escalante (CENCA, Peru), Lucia Moraes (Plataforma Brasileira de Direitos Humanos Econômicos Sociais, Culturais e Ambientais) and Cristina Reynals (Habitat Network, Argentina).
From August 2 until August 9, the independent experts of AGFE will travel to affected communities to evaluate the different situations, investigating the forced evictions as a result of a process that leads to the exclusion of the residents and favors the interests of the private sector, with devastating effects for the country.
The investigation will focus in particular on the impact of the global crisis and real estate speculation on the insecurity of tenure in the “occupied city” of Buenos Aires, and the pressure of human settlements on the environment in the Patagonia region.
The experts will also attempt to identify positive actions and proposals to prevent and halt evictions and, if the opportunity arises, to begin a constructive dialogue among the various institutional actors and civil society to promote alternative solutions.
The report will serve to acquaint UN-HABITAT with the situation and to make recommendations for initiatives directed at preventing forced evictions in the country.
To achieve this goal, the neighborhood residents will share their own experiences of forced eviction and their vision for creating a process of inclusion and ensuring the right to the city.
The AGFE delegation will also interview representatives of Civil Society Organizations as well as local government officials from the municipalities of Buenos Aires, Rio Negro and Ushuaia to discuss the objectives of the mission.
AGFE: International Advisory Group on Forced Evictions is part of the system of UN-HABITAT, the United Nations agency for human settlements. Its primary goal is to advise the Director of UN-HABITAT on ways to resolve cases of forced eviction and promote alternative policies. AGFE has sent delegations to other parts of the world, such as Rome, Santo Domingo, Curitiba, London, Istanbul and New Orleans .
See:
Press release:
Agencia Comunas: 4 de agosto 2009 Comienza la Misión AGFE de Naciones Unidas por los Desalojos Forzosos en Argentina
Agencia Comunas: 5 de agosto 2009 Investigan Desalojos Forzosos en Chacarita
Noticias Urbanas: 31 de julio 2009 Una misión de la ONU en la Legislatura
LU17.com: 5 de agosto 2009 La ONU está en Patagonia por la toma de terrenos
Agencia Periodística Patagónica 5 de agosto 2009 Río Negro: En coincidencia con la visita de una misión sobre hábitat de las Naciones Unidas, familias vuelven a ocupar tierras en el Loteo Silva
www.notiar.com.ar 3 de agosto 2009 La ONU revisará la crisis de vivienda en la ciudad
ADN Río Negro 4 de agosto 2009 Grupo consultor de ONU llega para ver tomas de terrenos en Allen y Viedma
Radio Encuentro 3 de agosto 2009 Llega a Viedma misión de Naciones Unidas para entrevistar a organizaciones, recorrerer asentamientos irregulares, y reunirse con funcionarios
CYN digital 3 de agosto 2009 Grupo mundial inspecciona desalojos forzosos en Viedma
Un pueblo chico 3 de agosto 2009 Organización internacional investigará desalojos forzosos en Ushuaia
Contact:
El Ceibo – Red Hábitat – FEDEVI
011 15 5162 5774 – 4775 5152
RED HÁBITAT ARGENTINA
“por una ley marco a nivel nacional”
15 5162 5774 - 15 6848 40 88
Tel: 4775 5152 – Radio 636*331
Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
Audiencia pública, Parlamento Buenos Aires, 3 de agosto 09
Calle Holmberg 1285, Buenos Aires 4 de agosto 09
Barrio 30 marzo, Viedma – Río Negro, 5 de agosto 09
Barrio Obrero de Ushuaia, 8 agosto 09
The Volunteer translators for housing rights without frontiers of IAI who have collaborated on the translation of this text were: