UN voices concern about violent evictions in Argentina

[News_Editor]

UN voices concern about violent evictions in Argentina

2011-04-22 02:55:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- Violent evictions often carried out by the State are significantly increasing in Argentina, an independent United Nations human rights expert said Thursday.

Raquel Rolnik called for a comprehensive strategy to tackle the country's housing crisis after hearing countless testimonies about violent evictions, often carried out by the State and on public land. She said that the "informal occupation" of land has become the main form of access to housing in the country due to the lack of affordable housing.

"Despite the significant budgetary commitment adopted by the Government since 2003 in response to the housing crisis, and the participation of provinces and municipalities in this effort, the imbalance between supply and demand has continued to increase," said Rolnik, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing.

"This is partly due to State neglect of housing issues in previous decades. But the situation has deteriorated recently due to the economic growth that Argentina is experiencing and its direct effect on price increases for land, including urban land, housing and rents which have grown proportionately more than the income of most of the population."

The evictions are affecting mainly peasants and indigenous peoples. In addition, there is a growing phenomenon in various parts of the country of criminalization and stigmatization of people who occupy lands or buildings.

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