United Nations Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons

Dr. Khaled Hassine is a lawyer and housing, land and property (HLP) rights specialist. He has advised UN peace operations, research institutes and NGOs, and is a member of the HLP Group of the UN Global Protection Cluster, and the UNHCR Livelihoods Advisory Board. Scott Leckie is an international human rights lawyer, academic, author, social entrepreneur, environmentalist, motivational public speaker, global citizen and the world's most widely published author on housing, land and property rights issues.

• Excerpt of table of contents:Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgements PART I - Commentary Introduction; PreambleSection I. Scope and Application1. Principle 1. Scope and applicationSection II. The right to housing and property restitution2. Principle 2. The right to housing and property restitutionSection III. Overarching principles3. Principle 3. The right to non-discrimination4. Principle 4. The right to equality between men and women5. Principle 5. The right to be protected from displacement6. Principle 6. The right to privacy and respect for the home7. Principle 7. The right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions8. Principle 8. The right to adequate housing9. Principle 9. The right to freedom of movementSection IV. The right to voluntary return in safety and dignity10. Principle 10.Section V. Legal, policy, procedural and institutional implementation mechanisms11. Principle 11. Compatibility with international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law and related standards12. Principle 12. National procedures, institutions and mechanisms13. Principle 13. Accessibility of restitution claims procedures14. Principle 14. Adequate consultation and participation in decision-making15. Principle 15. Housing, land and property records and documentation16. Principle 16. The rights of tenants and other non-owners17. Principle 17. Secondary occupants18. Principle 18. Legislative measures19. Principle 19. Prohibition of arbitrary and discriminatory laws20. Principle 20. Enforcement of restitution decisions and judgments21. Principle 21. CompensationSection VI. The role of the international community, including international organizations 22. Principle 22. Responsibility of the international communitySection VII. Interpretation23. Principle 23. InterpretationAnnex: The United Nations Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons (‘The Pinheiro Principles’)PART II – Travaux Préparatoires 1. A/51/482, Seventh meeting of persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies (1996).2. Comprehensive examination of thematic issues relating to the elimination of racial discrimination, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/31, 27 May 1997E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/31, CERD (fiftieth session – 1997).3. Comprehensive examination of thematic issues relating to the elimination of racial discrimination, Letter of CERD Chairperson dated 19 March 1997, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/31, 27 May 1997, CERD (fiftieth session – 1997).4. Racism and racial discrimination, Sub-Commission Resolution 1997/5.5. Criteria for new studies, Sub-Commission Decision 1997/112.6. Housing and property restitution in the context of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, Sub-Commission Resolution 1998/26.7. Internally displaced persons, Commission Resolution 1999/47.8. Housing and property restitution in the context of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, Sub-Commission decision 1999/108.9. The return of refugees’ or displaced persons’ property, Sub-Commission on Human Rights Decision 2001/122, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/17.10. Sub-Commission on the promotion and protection of human rights, 54th session, Summary record of the 10th meeting, ‘Working Paper’, 6 August 2002, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/17.11. Housing and property restitution in the context of refugees and other displaced persons, 14 August 2002, Sub-Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/7.12. Housing and property restitution in the context of refugees and other displaced persons, 16 June 2003, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/11, Commission on Human Rights Decision 2003/109.13. Extrait du compte rend analytique du debat de la Sous-Commission lors de la 14eme séance, 11 novembre 2003, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/SR.14.14. Extract of the Summary Record of the Sub-Commission debate (presentation of the working paper) at its 15th meeting, 8 August 2003, E/CN./Sub.2/2003/SR.15.15. Housing and property restitution, Sub-Commission resolution 2003/18, 13 August 2003.16. Housing and property restitution in the context of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, 2 June 2004, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/22.17. Housing and property restitution in the context of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, 2 June 2004, Draft commentary on the draft principles, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/22/Add.1.18. Extract of the Summary Record of the Sub-Commission debate (presentation of the working paper) at its 11th meeting, 4 August 2004, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/SR.11.19. Housing and property restitution, Sub-Commission resolution 2004/2, 9 August 2004.20. Revisions to the draft Principles on housing and property restitution for refugees and displaced persons.21. Housing and property restitution in the context of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, Final report of the Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Principles on housing and property restitution for refugees and displaced persons, 28 June 2005, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/17.22. Housing and property restitution in the context of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, Final report of the Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Addendum Explanatory Notes on the Principles on housing and property restitution for refugees and displaced persons, 11 July 2005, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/17/Add.1.23. Extract of the Summary Record of the Sub-Commission debate (presentation of the working paper) at its 10th meeting, 4 August 2005, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/SR.10.24. Sub-Commission resolution 2005/21, Housing and property restitution for refugees and displaced persons, 11 August 2005.PART III – Annotated Bibliography1. Books; 2. Articles; 3. Reports of the UN Secretary-General/Procès Verbaux; 4. General Assembly Resolutions; 5. Security Council Resolutions; 6. Documents of the General Assembly and Subsidiary Bodies (UN Human Rights Council, ECOSOC (Commission on Human Rights and Sub-Commission); 7. UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC); 8. UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD); 9. Statements, Declarations, et al.; 10. Council of Europe-Parliamentary Assembly; 11. Judgments/Decisions; 12. Selected Agreements, Legislative Authority and Accessory Jurisprudence.