27 May 1988

16th plenary meeting

Realization of the right to adequate housing

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 1986/41 of 23 May 1986 and 1987/62 of 29 May 1987,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 41/146 of 4 December 1986,

Taking into account General Assembly resolution 42/146 of 7 December 1987, in which the Assembly requested the Economic and Social Council and its appropriate functional commissions to keep the question of the right to adequate housing under periodic review,

Bearing in mind that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provide that all persons have the right to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate housing, and that States should take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of that right,

Recognizing that the provision of housing for the homeless is an integral part of national economic and social development in all countries and an important step towards the realization of the right to development,

Recalling the objectives of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless,

Noting with appreciation the measures and action taken and the renewed commitments made during the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless by Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to advance the realization of the right to adequate housing,

Recognizing the importance of sustaining the momentum generated by the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless,

1. Expresses its deep concern that millions of people do not enjoy the right to adequate housing;

2. Reiterates the provisions of General Assembly resolution 42/146 and the need to take appropriate measures, at the national and international levels, to promote the right of all persons to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate housing;

3. Calls upon all States and international organizations concerned to pay special attention to the realization of the right to adequate housing in carrying out measures to develop national shelter strategies and settlement improvement programmes within the framework of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the social aspects of the situation of homeless people to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session;

5. Requests the General Assembly to consider the question of the realization of the right to adequate housing at its forty-third session under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Economic and Social Council".