28 May 1987

17th plenary meeting

International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 37/221 of 20 December 1982, in which the Assembly proclaimed the year 1987 International Year of Shelter for the Homeless,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 41/146 of 4 December 1986 and Council resolution 1986/41 of 23 May 1986,

Recalling further that the objective of activities before and during the Year is to improve the shelter and neighbourhoods of some of the poor and disadvantaged by the end of 1987, according to national priorities, and to demonstrate by the year 2000 ways and means of improving the shelter and neighbourhoods of the poor and disadvantaged,

Recognizing with regret that a considerable part of the world's population does not have adequate shelter and lives in extremely unhealthy and unsanitary conditions,

Noting that the lack of adequate housing for millions of people constitutes a serious social problem requiring urgent action at both the national and international levels,

Taking note of the fact that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Declaration on Social Progress and Development and the Declaration on the Right to Development provide that all persons have the right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate housing, and that States should take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of that right,

Recognizing that the provision of adequate shelter is essential for the promotion and achievement of national economic and social development and human health,

1. Calls upon all Governments and all institutions concerned, both national and international, to adopt decisive steps to achieve the objectives and goals of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless and to inform the Secretary-General thereon;

2. Requests the Secretary-General, when assessing the results of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, to pay due attention to the social and human aspects of housing for the poor and disadvantaged and, in this connection, to the practical follow-up of the Year through the Commission for Human Settlements;

3. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to pay attention to the problem of inadequate shelter in the context of the review of the world social situation.