World Habitat Day - 2013, Nairobi Kenya.

Background

The United Nations general assembly has declared the first Monday in October to be world habitat day. This is a time to recognize the basic need for adequate shelter in a world where it is lacking for so many.It is a day of grassroots action to advocate for universal decent housing and the basic human right to adequate shelter.

Amnesty International has worked for many years on Economic Cultural and Social Rights in Kenya. Amnesty International’s work in Kenya has, since 2009, mainly focused on addressing Human Rights Violations that Drive and Deepen Poverty especially within the context of adequate housing rights of people living in the slums and informal settlements. This campaign particularly focuses on addressing human rights violations in slums with the goal to have residents of slums and informal settlements live in dignity and with security.

Amnesty International Kenya focuses on the right to adequate housing and in particular campaign to end forced evictions through documenting widespread violations in the slums and  working with communities to empower them to take action and hold those responsible for forced evictions to account.