The document summarizes a presentation given by Lorena Zárate on housing and cities as human rights through dialogues between Latin America and Canada. It discusses the work of Habitat International Coalition, an NGO network working on human habitat issues in over 125 countries. It also describes the Mexico City Charter for the Right to the City, a document signed in 2010 that establishes principles for democratic management and production of urban space with a focus on social justice, sustainability, and collective rights.

1. Housing and cities as human rights:
dialogues between Latin America & Canada
Lorena Zárate
HIC Habitat International Coalition
Wellesley institute, Toronto
February 14th, 2013

2. Habitat International Coalition
 International independent and non profit network,
created in 1976.
 350 NGO’s, community based organizations,
research and teaching institutes, professionals and
activists in 125 countries.
 Working on human habitat related issues (technical,
social, economical & political contents).
www.hic-net.org

3. General objective and strategies
 Promotion, defense and fullfilment of
the right of every person to a place to
live in peace and dignity
(land and housing rights, human rights related to habitat, right to the city)
 Strenghthen social actors and processes
(social production of habitat, human rights
defense).
 Advocacy for housing and habitat public
policies at local, national and international
level.

4. Thematic areas
Environment
Gender Human rights
Production of
habitat

9. The Right to the City is…
The equitable use and enjoyment of the city
under the principles of:
Sustainability
Democracy
Equity
Social Justice
New collective right

10. The Right to the City
Human rights Democracy
Equity Representative,
Social Justice distributive, direct
Territory
Sustainability
Planning and
Public managment

11. David Harvey, 2008
The Right to the
City as …
The excercise of a
collective power
to transform the
urbanization process.
The right to
change ourselves,
by changing the city.

12. Mexico City Charter
for the
Right to the City

13. Elaboration process: 2007-12
Promoter Committee =
- Urban Popular Movement
- Mexico City Government
- Human Rights Commission
- Human Rights NGOs
- Habitat International Coalition-Latin America
Activities =
o + 60 meetings
o Public activities = + 5,000 people
o Workshops / Radio programs / Children´s
painting contest
o Human Rights Fair / Videos / Publications /
Blog / Website

14. Mexico City Charter for the Right to the City
Signed on 13 July, 2010
New legal status for the city (Constitution?)
 Changes in legal framework
 Changes in public administration
 Allocation of specific resources

15. Signed by 253 representatives of
 Civil society organizations
- Indigenous and campesino groups
- Cooperatives
- Tenants
- Street sellers and workers
- Unions
- NGOs
- Women organizations
- Youth organizations
- etc.
 Academic institutions
 Professional organizations

16. Right to the City strategic principles
Social
function
of land,
property
& city
Human
Democratic
rights in
management
the city
Democratic
Democratic
production
enjoyment
&
of the city
productive
Sustainable habitat
&
responsible
management
of the
commons

17. Full citizenship /
full exercise of human rights in the city
Realization of political, economic, social, cultural
and environmental human rights without
discrimination.
Ensure collective dignity and well-being in conditions
of equality, equity, justice and solidarity.
Generate conditions for the development of a
dignified quality of life for all in the city, at both
individual and collective levels.

19. The social function of the city,
land and property
Distribution and regulation of urban land, space and
the equitable use of common goods, services and
opportunities offered by the city, prioritizing the
-collectively defined- public interest.
Guarantee the right of all persons to a secure place
to live in peace and dignity through the creation of legal
instruments and participatory mechanisms that oppose
speculation, urban segregation, exclusion, forced
evictions and displacements.

24. Democratic urban management
Citizen participation at the highest levels of decision-
making, including the design, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of public policies, urban
planning, budgeting and control of urban processes.
Strengthen democracy through the creation of
decision-making spaces and mechanisms of direct
democracy.

26. The democratic production
of urban space and productive habitat
 Facilitate the right to participate in the social
production of habitat and to guarantee the
productive insertion of all in the urban economy,
including youth.
 Development of economic activities that contribute
to a productive city of solidarity.

28. The sustainable and responsible
management of environmental, cultural and
energy resources as common goods in the city
Socially responsible use of resources and the
enjoyment of a healthy environment that allows all
people and communities to develop under equal
conditions.
Guarantee improved environmental conditions and
that urban development does not take place at the cost
of rural communities, ecological reserves, other cities
or future generations.

32. The democratic and equitable
enjoyment of the city
Strengthening of social solidarity
Expansion and improvement of public spaces.
Rescue and strengthen the cultural and recreational
enjoyment of public spaces and the respect for cultural
diversity in the city.

35. The strategy for implementation
a) incorporation of the Charter into new and existing city
laws, policies and planning initiatives;
b) promotion and dissemination of the Charter
among government workers, social organizations and
citizens;
c) organization of local action committees to
advance the Charter’s objectives in different areas of
the city;
d) political commitments from elected
representatives within the Federal District who are
being asked to sign and implement the Charter in

36. Tensions to think about…
Housing policy Massive construction of houses
Housing policy Urban/territorial planning
Right to housing Right to the city
Immediate needs Long-term transformations
Metropolitan areas Small cities
Formality Informality
Urban agenda Rural agenda

37. HIC-AL publications (available on-line)

39. HIC
Habitat International Coalition
More information:
www.hic-net.org
Contact:
hicpresident@hic-net.org
@hicpresident