COHRE 2008 HOUSING RIGHTS AWARDS The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is an independent, international human rights NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland and mandated to protect and promote housing rights worldwide. Further information on COHRE is available at: www.cohre.org. Despite the widespread recognition of housing rights under international human rights law, violations of housing rights continue to occur on a massive scale. Today over one billion people live in inadequate housing and a further 100 million are homeless on any given night. Millions more are forcibly evicted from their homes every year. Proper implementation of housing rights standards also remains a key challenge. COHRE’s annual Housing Rights Awards draw attention to some of the world’s worst violators of housing rights and – on a more positive note – to governments, civil society groups and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to enforcing and securing housing rights for everyone, everywhere. Each year COHRE presents three types of Housing Rights Award: the Housing Rights Violator Award, the Housing Rights Protector Award (presented to a government or institution) and the Housing Rights Defender Award (presented to an individual). COHRE welcomes nominations for each of the three annual award categories from any person or institution wishing to submit them. Nominations must be made using the prescribed nomination forms. Nomination forms are available at: http://www.cohre.org/awards Completed nominations forms should be sent to: awards2008@cohre.org The deadline for nominations is 8 September 2008 Selection Criteria for each award category follow below
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HOUSING RIGHTS VIOLATOR AWARDS (3) COHRE’s Housing Rights Violator Awards are presented annually to three governments and/or other public institutions that have committed clear housing rights violations at any time during the previous year, or earlier, and which are in clear contravention of international human rights law and related housing rights standards. The Housing Rights Violator Awards are designed to raise awareness of housing rights and the nature and scale of violations of these rights, as well as to guarantee better implementation of these rights. Immediately following the announcement of the Housing Rights Violator Awards, COHRE contacts the governments or institutions concerned and seeks to engage them in a constructive dialogue to discuss specific measures that may be taken in order to put an end to violations and ensure respect for housing rights in the future. SELECTION CRITERIA COHRE will take into account the following criteria in selecting recipients of its annual Housing Rights Violator Awards:
A marked deterioration in the housing rights situation directly attributable to actions or omissions of the nominees A clear failure to implement national or international housing rights obligations A clear failure to devote the maximum of available resources towards the full realisation of housing rights A marked increase in the prevalence of housing rights violations, whether in terms of specific events or larger patterns The effect of specific housing rights violations The degree of impunity with which housing rights violations have been committed The likelihood that the award will make a positive contribution to the enjoyment of housing rights in the country concerned The reliability and accuracy of available information
HOUSING RIGHTS PROTECTOR AWARD (1) COHRE’s Housing Rights Protector Award is presented to a government and/or other public institution that has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to respect, protecting and fulfil housing rights through the adoption of specific measures (legislations, programmes, policies and others). The Protector Award demonstrates that the human right to adequate housing can indeed be made a reality, if political will exists. SELECTION CRITERIA COHRE will take into account the following criteria in selecting the recipient of the annual Housing Rights Protector Award:
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Nominees must be either a national or local government, an inter-governmental organisation/agency, or any other institution with formal responsibility for protecting, respecting or enforcing housing rights Nominees must have demonstrated exceptional commitment to securing the full realisation of housing rights for everyone within territories under their jurisdiction Nominees should be able to show concrete progress because of decisions made by them in support of housing rights
HOUSING RIGHTS DEFENDER AWARD (1) COHRE’s Housing Rights Defender Award is presented to an individual or nongovernmental organisation which has shown outstanding commitment to the realisation of the right to adequate housing. SELECTION CRITERIA COHRE will take into account the following criteria in selecting the recipient of the annual Housing Rights Defender Award:
Nominees should be committed to non-violence Nominees should be independent of any government or political affiliation Nominees should not be self nominated Nominees should demonstrate a significant contribution in the struggle for Housing Rights for everyone, everywhere The Award is given to an individual based on that individual’s personal achievement and commitment
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