Cabo Verde must prioritise housing for the poorest, UN rights expert urges
PRAIA / GENEVA (26 January 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing and
non-discrimination Leilani Farha on Monday called on the Government of Cabo Verde to prioritise measures to ensure the
poorest members of society can have affordable, adequate housing.
Ms. Farha, speaking at the end of an official visit to Cabo Verde, noted the positive steps taken by the Government to
address the inadequate supply and inadequate conditions of housing in Cabo Verde. These include the adoption of several
national level housing laws, policies and programmes, among them the national system for social housing.
“While these measures are highly commendable, my preliminary findings strongly suggest that they are not adequately
assisting many of the poorest individuals and families, particularly those living in informal settlements. I also
noticed gaps in national programmes to address the housing needs of people with disabilities, and of women and children
experiencing violence,” the human rights expert said.
The Special Rapporteur visited several informal settlements on the Islands of Santiago, Sal and Sao Vicente. During her
visit (19-26 January) she met many national and local government officials as well as community organisations and
residents.
“I met women and young girls who spoke of the indignity and humiliation they experience having to bathe and defecate in
public spaces, due to lack of water and sanitation facilities,“ said Ms. Farha. “In addition, many of the homes I
visited are only partly constructed, or built very precariously. People find themselves living literally without a roof
over their head to protect against dust, wind or rain.”
“I commend Cabo Verde for having ratified all the relevant international human rights treaties to protect the right to
adequate housing. Now it’s time to strengthen relevant policies and programmes to ensure those rights become reality,”
the independent expert said. “As I stress in my upcoming report to the UN Human Rights Council, municipalities can play
a key role in implementing the right to adequate housing, and Cabo Verde is no exception. However, for municipalities to
be able to do this, they need sufficient resources” Ms. Farha stated.
During her visit to Cabo Verde, the expert met senior officials from ministries and other state institutions, Members of
Parliament, the Ombudsman, the National Commission for Human Rights, city mayors and elected local government officials,
UN officials, NGOs, and individuals and families. Her final report, including findings and key recommendations will be
presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2016.
(*) Check the full end-of-mission statement:
Portuguese (unofficial translation):
ENDS