The following provides an overview of selected United Nations documents on the human right to adequate housing. The documents are grouped by thematic area and United Nations body.

A fully searchable electronic compilation of most of these resolutions is also available:

Housing rights in general

• United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• The right to adequate housing (Art.11 (1)). General Comment 4 to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)
• A.CONF/165/PC.2/11 (& HS/C/15/2/Add.2): Towards a housing rights strategy: Practical contributions by UNCHS (Habitat) on promoting, ensuring and protecting the full realization of the human right to adequate housing. Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and Executive Director of UNCHS (Habitat).
• Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly for an Overall Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the Habitat Agenda
• HS/C/PC.1/CRP.8: Secure tenure: A normative framework.
• Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (formerly Commission on Human Settlements)
• HS/C/15/2/Add.2 (& A.CONF/165/PC.2/11): Towards a housing rights strategy: Practical contributions by UNCHS (Habitat) on promoting, ensuring and protecting the full realization of the human right to adequate housing. Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and Executive Director of UNCHS (Habitat).
• HS/C/15/INF.7: Towards a housing rights strategy: Practical contributions by UNCHS (Habitat) on promoting, ensuring and protecting the full realization of the human right to adequate housing. Background paper prepared for the fifteenth session of the Commission on Human Settlements.
• HS/C/16/2/Add.2: Strategy for the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing. Report of the Executive Director to the sixteenth session of the Commission on Human Settlements.
• HS/C/17/INF.6: Guidelines on practical aspects in the realization of the human right to adequate housing, including the formulation of the United Nations housing rights programme. Note by the secretariat for the seventeenth session of the Commission on Human Settlements.
• HS/C/18/6: Security of tenure. Report of the Executive Director.
• Commission on Human Rights
• E/CN.4/1994/19 (parts 1, 2 & 3): Question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems which the developing countries face in their efforts to achieve these human rights.
• E/CN.4/1997/17: Question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems which the developing countries face in their efforts to achieve these human rights.
• E/CN.4/2001/49: Economic, social and cultural rights. Report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/9.
• E/CN.4/2002/50: Economic, social and cultural rights. Report of the Secretary-General.
• E/CN.4/2002/57: Status of international covenants: report of the independent expert on the question of a draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• E/CN.4/2003/46: Economic, social and cultural rights. Report of the Secretary-General pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/24 on the question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems which the developing countries face in their efforts to achieve these human rights.
• E/CN.4/2005/39: Question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems which the developing countries face in their efforts to achieve these human rights. Report of the Secretary-General.
• Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (formerly Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities)
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/19: Realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Progress report prepared by Mr. Danilo Türk, Special Rapporteur.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/17: Realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Second progress report prepared by Mr. Danilo Türk, Special Rapporteur.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1992/16: Realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Final report prepared by Mr. Danilo Türk, Special Rapporteur.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1994/11 & Corr.1: Preliminary report on opposition to the impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations (economic, social and cultural rights), prepared by Mr. Guissé and Mr. Joinet, pursuant to Sub-Commission resolution 1993/37.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1996/10: The right to adequate housing. Note by the Secretariat.
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Fact Sheet No. 21: The human right to adequate housing.

Optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Commission on Human Rights
• E/CN.4/1997/105: Draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Note by the Secretary-General.
• E/CN.4/2001/62: Draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
• E/CN.4.2001/62/Add.1: Addendum.
• E/CN.4/2001/62/Add.2: Report on the workshop on the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights, with particular reference to the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Reports of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination, Miloon Kothari

• Commission on Human Rights
• E/CN.4/2001/51: Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Mr. Miloon Kothari, submitted pursuant to Commission resolution 2000/9.
• E/CN.4/2002/59 & Corr.1: Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Mr. Miloon Kothari.
• E/CN.4/2003/5: Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination, Miloon Kothari, submitted in accordance with Commission resolution 2002/21.
• E/CN.4/2003/5/Add.1: Addendum. Visit to the occupied Palestinian territories (5-10 January 2002).
• E/CN.4/2003/5/Add.2: Addendum. Mission to Romania (14-19 January 2002).
• E/CN.4/2003/5/Add.3: Addendum. Mission to Mexico (4-15 March 2002).
• E/CN.4/2003/55: Women and adequate housing. Study by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination.
• E/CN.4/2004/48: Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari.
• E/CN.4/2004/48/Add.1: Addendum. Mission to Peru.
• E/CN.4/2004/48/Add.2: Addendum. Mission to Afghanistan (31 August-13 September 2003).
• E/CN.4/2005/43: Study by the Special Rapporteur, Miloon Kothari, on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living. Women and adequate housing.
• E/CN.4/2005/48: Report of Miloon Kothari, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living.
• E/CN.4/2005/48/Add.1 & Corr.1: Report of Miloon Kothari, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living - Summary of information transmitted to Governments and replies received.
• E/CN.4/2005/48/Add.2: Addendum. Mission to Kenya (9-22 February 2004).
• E/CN.4/2005/48/Add.3: Addendum. Mission to Brazil (29 May-13 June 2004).

Reports of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Promoting the Right to Adequate Housing, Mr. Rajindar Sachar

• Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (formerly Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities)
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1993/15: The right to adequate housing: progress report submitted by Mr. Rajindar Sachar, Special Rapporteur appointed pursuant to resolution 1992/26 of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities and decision 1993/103 of the Commission on Human Rights.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1994/20: Second progress report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on promoting the right to adequate housing.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1995/12: Final report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on promoting the right to adequate housing.

Forced evictions

• United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• The right to adequate housing (Art.11.1): Forced evictions. General Comment 7 to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• Commission on Human Rights
• E/CN.4/1994/20: Forced evictions. Analytical report compiled by the Secretary-General pursuant to Commission resolution 1993/77.
• E/CN.4/2000/81: Human rights and mass exoduses.
• E/CN.4/2004/48: Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari.
• Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (formerly Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities)
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1993/17 & Corr.1 (parts 1, 2 & 3): The human rights dimensions of population transfer, including the implantation of settlers. Preliminary report prepared by Mr. A.S. Al-Khasawneh and Mr. R. Hatano.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1995/13: Guidelines on international events and forced evictions. Report of the Secretary-General.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1996/11: Guidelines on international events and forced evictions. Report of the Secretary-General.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/7: Expert seminar on the practice of forced evictions (Geneva, 11-13 June 1997). Report of the Secretary-General" (including "The practice of forced evictions: Comprehensive human rights guidelines on development-based displacement").
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Fact Sheet No. 25: Forced evictions and human rights.

Women's housing rights

• Commission on Human Rights
• E/CN.4/2000/68: Violence against women. Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, on trafficking in women, women's migration and violence against women, submitted in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/44.
• E/CN.4/2000/68/Add.5: Violence against women. Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, submitted in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/44. Addendum: Economic and social policy and its impact on violence against women.
• E/CN.4/2002/53: Women’s equal ownership of, access to and control over land and the equal rights to own property and to adequate housing: report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with Commission resolution 2001/34.
• E/CN.4/2005/43: Study by the Special Rapporteur, Miloon Kothari, on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living. Women and adequate housing.

Indigenous peoples' housing rights

• Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (formerly Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities)
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1994/2: Technical review of the United Nations draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Note by the secretariat.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/1994/2/Add.1: Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/21: Final working paper prepared by the Special Rapporteur, Mrs. Erica-Irene A. Daes, on indigenous peoples and their relationship to land.
• Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
• E/CN.19/2002/2/Add.2: Information received from the United Nations system: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and indigenous peoples.
• E/CN.19/2003/8: Information received from the United Nations system: United Nations Human Settlement Programme.
• E/C.19/2004/5: Information received from the United Nations system: United Nations Human Settlement Programme. Report prepared for the third session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
• E/C/19/2005/4: Information received from the United Nations system: UN-HABITAT.

Refugees and internally displaced persons' housing rights

• Commission on Human Rights
• E/CN.4/1995/50: Internally displaced persons. Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1993/95 and 1994/68.
• E/CN.4/1996/52: Internally displaced persons. Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission n Human Rights resolution 1995/57.
• E/CN.4/1996/52/Add.2: Internally displaced persons. Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/57.
• E/CN.4/1998/53: Internally displaced persons. Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/39.
• E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.1: Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/39. Addendum. Compilation and Analysis of Legal Norms, Part II: Legal Aspects Relating to the Protection against Arbitrary Displacement.
• E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2: Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission resolution 1997/39. Addendum. Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.
• E/CN.4/1999/79: Internally displaced persons. Report of the Representative of the Secretary General Mr. Francis M. Deng, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights Resolution 1998/50.
• Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (formerly Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities)
• E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/17: The return of refugees’ or displaced persons’ property. Working paper submitted by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro pursuant to Sub-Commission decision 2001/122.