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The NGO Working Group to End Homelessness, in collaboration with various civil society partners, hosted the event “Centering Homelessness in Light of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Achieving Agenda 2030” at CSocD63. Opening statements were delivered by Dr. Ify Ofong, Main Representative to the UN for the WorldWIDE Network (Nigeria/NGO WGEH), who emphasized the importance of placing homelessness at the center of global social development discussions and advocating for the rights of people experiencing homelessness.
The interactive session featured five distinguished speakers: Franchesca from UN-Habitat, Ms. Maryann Broxton, Vice Chair of NGO CSocD, Mr. Desmond Chieshe, Africa Regional Coordinator at Habitat International Coalition, Rob Robinson, Senior Advisor at Partners for Dignity and Rights, and Ms. Cecilie Kern, Chair of the NGO Committee on Migration. These experts addressed the pressing issue of homelessness and its connection to migration, land rights, and social inclusion.
The event underscored the urgency of addressing homelessness as a core issue within the context of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the 2030 Agenda. Participants agreed that homelessness must be recognized as a human rights issue, requiring inclusive social policies that ensure affordable housing and land rights. The conversation also focused on how migration, internal displacement, and conflict contribute to homelessness, with an emphasis on removing legal barriers that prevent migrants and asylum seekers from accessing housing.
A key objective emerging from the discussion was to position homelessness as a central human rights concern. The need for sustainable housing solutions, fair legal systems, and inclusive policies was highlighted. Panelists also emphasized that although some progress has been made, homelessness remains a critical global issue, with between 1.6 and 3 billion people lacking adequate housing, according to UN-Habitat.
Expected outcomes include stronger global policies that promote affordable, long-term housing solutions, reduced discrimination against migrants and asylum seekers, and increased political will and financial commitment to address homelessness.
Source: UN DESA