United Nations advocates for housing as a fundamental human right

During World Habitat Day commemorations in Muscat, Oman, United Nations representatives and global leaders called for urgent action to address a worldwide housing crisis affecting nearly 3.4 billion people.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach emphasized that adequate housing is a foundation for dignified living and sustainable cities rather than a luxury. She advocated for treating housing as a public priority alongside land and basic services, requiring increased investment and cooperation between governments, the private sector, and civil society.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that over 3 billion people are deprived of this universal human right. He highlighted that more than one billion people live in informal settlements and slums, with many others facing displacement due to conflict, natural disasters, and climate change. Nga Kor Ming, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, warned that homes lacking legal protection, clean water, or sanitation act as “poverty traps” for families.