Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
Human Rights Council – 52nd Session
March 8, 2023
Thank you, Madam Vice President.
Thank you, Special Rapporteur, for your important and timely report.
Climate change and environmental degradation can have a significant effect on the enjoyment of human rights, including those related to housing.
The United States is taking action on climate and environmental justice by supporting communities, including historically underserved and marginalized populations, that are working to curb pollution, use natural resources more sustainably, create equitable disaster recovery, and strengthen climate resilience and energy efficiency.
We will continue to work within the Human Rights Council and with partners to improve access to adequate housing for communities facing the ongoing threats of climate change and conflict.
We also share your concern for communities displaced from their homes due to conflict and persecution – a reminder of the interconnected nature of human rights. As you noted in December, Burma’s military has forcibly evicted approximately 50,000 people from informal settlements and has systematically destroyed homes. These abhorrent actions follow the military’s systematic burnings of Rohingya homes in 2017 as part of a campaign of violence that has displaced millions. The State Department has determined that members of the Burmese military committed genocide and crimes against humanity.
Question: Mr. Special Rapporteur, how can the international community encourage countries to adopt national housing policies that prioritize resilience to the adverse effects of climate change?
Thank you.
###