Habitat, Safety and Women: Perspectives and Proposals from Central America

The poorest and most excluded populations in Central America have been historically affected by the systematic violation of their human rights, including access to an adequate, safe and sustainable habitat. Out of every ten households, 6 - 8 are currently living in housing conditions that compromise the integrity and well-being of its inhabitants. This situation has a differentiated, profound impact on women and their families; an especially vulnerable group due to cultural and socioeconomic limitations imposed by strongly patriarchal societies. Most households that are part of the housing deficit in Central America present not only an extremely low and unstable income level, but are also headed by women. At this Side Event, representatives of cooperation agencies, NGO’s, social organizations and networks that are primarily lead by women, and whose work focuses on promoting the human right to an affordable, adequate and sustainable habitat, present their experiences and generate debate on methodological and intervention proposals that have proved to be feasible and effective responses to the housing deficit problem; one that affects the well-being of the poorest and most excluded populations, especially women’s as one of Central America’s most vulnerable groups, given the region’s context of patriarchal violence and insecurity.