ABSTRACT
Housing is one of the most fundamental needs human beings may have. A home brings safety to one’s life and the possibility to retreat from society at large and be oneself. A house protects its habitants from unfavourable climate conditions and offers space to safely put away one’s belongings and foodstuffs. An adequate home containing all necessary commodities is a safeguard against diseases and a secure place for children to grow up in. According to international human rights standards, everyone has the right to adequate housing. While this has been accepted worldwide, for many people this right only exists on paper because in practice they are unable to obtain or retain accommodation that fulfils the adequacy standard. The corollary of the right to housing is states’ obligation to enable their citizens to realize their housing rights. It is therefore important that states are aware of the main obstacles people encounter in trying to fulfil their right to housing so that they may develop legislation and policies that meet their citizens’ housing needs. While both men and women can have difficulties in realizing their housing rights, women face additional barriers that are brought about by gender discrimination and the ensuing different socio-economic position women find themselves in. In view of these circumstances, the question arises whether the international housing rights norm is adequate and suited to take women’s perspective into account.
