Special Rapporteurs are independent experts that work on behalf of the U.N. They are not U.N. staff, but work in conjunction with the Human Rights Council by creating and compiling reports from countries and conducting visits to countries for field work.  They combine all of this information to create reccomendations and induce governments to change practices and policies in order to protect and preserve human rights.  These experts can also recieve information from everyday citizens or NGOs about human rights violations and will communicate direcltly with governement officials of the concerned country.  They also spotlight human rights concerns statements made in press releases as well.

In late May 2008, the Special Rapporteur on Racial DiscriminationMr. Doudou Diene toured the United States for three weeks. His findings have been submitted as a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council.  The report specifically cites racial discrimination against homeless persons in Los Angeles' Skid Row and the lack of adequate affordable housing as problems there.  Additionally, the report cites problems with post-Katrina housing and the ongoing problem of racial segregation in housing.  Advocates here at home hope to use the power of the Diene's findings to push for change here at home. NLCHP helped facilitate housing and homeless organizations across the country in their advocacy with the Rapporteur, and also helped coordinate the final public hearing for the Mr. Diene, "Racism in the District: An International Inquiry," where grassroots organizations and citizens testified directly before the Special Rapporteur about their experiences of racism here in the nation's capital. 

 The UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing will be coming to the U.S. in the fall of 2009.  For more information on her visit, click here: Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing Visit 2009.  The Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing also conducted a regional hearing on women and adequate housing in 2005, coordinated by NLCHP and other partners.  For more details, click here.

Other Special Rapporteurs who should be utilized for protecting a right to housing: