Galway, Ireland 20-­‐21 April, 2012 Housing in the cons-tu-onal context: a compara-ve study Michelle Oren and Rachelle Alterman Technion-­‐Israel Ins/tute of Technology, Israel This paper is part of a broader worldwide compara=ve study focusing on differences and similari=es in the legal protec=on of housing rights in Na=onal cons=tu=ons. Supervised by Rachelle Alterman and Yaffa Zilbershatz. Why cons=tu=ons? The hierarchy of authority Supra-national Law
Constitution
National Statues, Executive Orders
National regulation (Subsidiary legislation)
Court interpretation of the Law
Agency Policy and Interpretation
Agency implementation actions
Law
Interpretation
Defini=on: Na=onal Cons=tu=on “Those rules of a legal system which regulate the government of a country, and in par=cular the nature and rela=onship of its cons=tuent parts to one another, and the basic rights which its ci=zens have against it” “Expresses the cultural vision and mission of the state” Youngs R.(2007) “English, French and German: compara=ve law”. Routledge Exis=ng knowledge •  Insufficient connec=on between legal aspects of housing and other aspects of housing. •  Dearth of systema=c compara=ve research on housing law interna=onally. •  No such cri=cal comparison of findings using defined parameters and scales to indicate a country’s posi=on in compara=ve terms and sugges=ng parameters for new legisla=on. •  Most contemporary compara=ve studies of cons=tu=ons focus on poli=cal and judicial decisions (legal analysis) we look at the diversity (mul=disciplinary analysis). Research ques=ons: Goal: Learn about international similarities and differences in the
relationship between housing rights and housing policies.
Research ques=ons: Goal:
Research ques=ons: Goal:
a. What are the similarities and
differences in the wording of the
legislation?
b. Are there common denominators
according to which constitutions
can be clustered?
Research ques=ons: Goal:
Research ques=ons: Goal:
a. What is the relation between
housing rights in national
constitutions and interrelated
international documents?
Research ques=ons: Goal:
Research ques=ons: Goal:
a. What aspects of housing are
less commonly referred to?
What aspects are most
common? Why? Are there new
aspects that have not been
referred to?
Research ques=ons: Goal:
Research ques=ons: Goal:
a. To what extent do
stakeholders in selected
countries regard the existing or
potential constitutionalization of
housing rights as having real
impact on housing policy
Research design PRE-PHASE
PRE-PHASE: Existing knowledge
Theoretical framework
Mapping existing knowledge
Housing studies
Constitutional Right theory
• Legal traditions
• Degree of intended legal power
• Direct, indirect and embedded rights
• Justice and distributive orders
• Functions
• Perceptions
• Aspects
General survey of world
constitutions
Our world today 206 Self defined States 193 UN member States 205 na-onal cons-tu-ons (including self defined and non sovereign states) 188 UN member States Cons-tu-ons Current Na=onal Cons=tu=ons by year of adop=on *In Red countries with cons-tu-onal right to housing What housing rights should comprise according to exis-ng knowledge of housing studies Mali •  1992 Cons=tu=on: (Titre premier : Des droits et devoirs de la personne humaine) •  Ar-cle 17 L'éduca=on, l'instruc=on, la forma=on, le travail, le logement, les loisirs, la santé, et la protec=on sociale cons=tuent des droits reconnus. •  2012 Cons=tu=on: (TITRE II DES DROITS ET DES DEVOIRS DE LA PERSONNE HUMAINE) •  Ar-cle 7 La personne humaine est sacrée et inviolable. L’Etat a l’obliga=on absolue de la respecter et de la protéger. Il lui garan=t un plein épanouissement. A cet effet, il assure à tous les citoyens l’égal accès à la santé, à l’éduca=on, à la culture, à l’informa=on, à la forma=on professionnelle et à l’emploi. Hungary Fundamental Law 2011 (sec=on FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY) Ar-cle XXII Hungary shall strive to provide every person with decent housing and access to public services. Nepal 1990 Cons-tu-on: Ar-cle 26 (Part 4 Direc-ve Principles and Policies of the State) (1) The State shall adopt a policy which is directed towards the uplikment of the standard of living of the general public through the development of the basic structures like public educa=on, health, housing and employment of the general public of all the regions by making equitable distribu=on of investment of the economic resources for the balanced development in the various geographical region of the country. 2007 interim cons-tu-on Ar-cle 33 (Part 4 Responsibili-es, Direc-ve Principles and policies of the state) The State shall have the following responsibili=es: (h) to pursue a policy of establishing the rights of all ci-zens to educa-on, health, housing, employment and food sovereignty, (i)  to adopt a policy of ensuring socio-­‐economic security and provide land to the economically backward classes, including the landless, bonded labourers [kamaiyas], -llers [haliyas], farm labours and shepherds [haruwa charuwa], 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Legal security of tenure Protec-on from forced evic-ons Non discrimina-on Percentage of cons=tu=ons with a direct right to housing addressing different criteria Affordable housing Social/public housing Informal se]lements Accesibility to all Accesibility to vulnerable Agrarian ownership/ workers Remedies/compensa-on Public sanita-on and water Credit to finance housing Homelessness Direct Housing rights Thank you