Resumen de Adequate housing in International and European Human Rights Law: A Panoramic View

Padraic Kenna

• Housing rights derived from international human rights treatiesare now accepted by all European States, (whether the 47 Council of Europe States or the 27 EU States) and are leading toa new jurisprudence which impacts on housing, land, planning law. Some existing housing related legal terms are being redefined and clarified in the context of State obligations. One key element of housing rights relates to “adequacy”, and in this area the European Committee of Social Rights is developing valuable jurisprudence. This paper outlines the housing rights obligations which States across the wider Europe have adopted, andexamines the developing concept of “adequacy” as an integral element of these rights. The now binding Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Lisbon Treaty will give added impact to this Council of Europe jurisprudence.