| 1. Introduction
Security of tenure is one of the elements of the human rights to adequate housing and land. These human rights are laid down in various international human rights instruments like covenants, conventions, declarations and resolutions, which are listed below in Section 3. The difference between these categories of international instruments is explained in Section 2.
All human rights are interrelated and interdependent. Human rights apply to all human beings. Discrimination against women in the recognition of their human rights to land and adequate housing has led to increased lobbying for the development of specific international instruments which emphasize women’s land, housing and property rights. Discrimination against minority ethnic or racial groups in recognition and implementation of their land and housing rights is another problem in practice, with women among these groups usually facing double discrimination. The international instruments related to the human rights to land and adequate housing are listed in Section 3. Some specific instruments related to the rights of vulnerable groups are also listed in this overview, in addition to provisions on non-discrimination and the right to equality which are laid down in various international human rights instruments
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