The UN Human Rights Council approves resolution on the Human Rights of Homeless People

On March 30, the UN Human Rights Council approved, by consensus, an unprecedented resolution, proposed by Brazil, on the human rights of individuals experiencing homelessness. The resolution highlights the complexity of the issue, the heterogeneous profile of this population, and their multiple needs.

The initiative urges states and civil society to take coordinated and multidisciplinary measures in areas such as adequate housing, food, physical and mental health, education and vocational training, employment and income-generation opportunities, and the issuance of identification documents. The text also calls for an end to acts of violence and discrimination against people experiencing homelessness.

According to the Cadastro ùnico (Unified Registry) of 2024, there are 327,000 people experiencing homelessness in Brazil, with a high concentration of Afro-descendants, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, which reflects how discrimination worsens extreme poverty and social exclusion.

In 2023, Brazil adopted the Ruas Visíveis (Visible Streets) National Plan and is now taking an important step in bringing this unprecedented discussion to the international community—one that may lead to reestablishing people experiencing homelessness as rights-bearing individuals, with the goal of promoting their social inclusion and restoring their dignity and citizenship.