The second edition of the Zero Evictions Day got underway during the Assembly of the Urban Social Movements at the World Social Forum 2005 as a step towards building a common space for housing issues at a global level. The theme "the right to dignified, secure housing” was chosen to give a more practical approach to Millennium Development Goal 7 target 11, since the United Nations’ approach is not effective being greatly influenced by the mechanisms of the market economy.
Thirty groups and organizations, with a total of over 350 individuals, responded to the appeal for the Zero Evictions Days, by organizing initiatives in 22 countries throughout the world.
Check the calendar of events by clicking on
www.habitants.org
The signatories of the appeal for the unity of urban social movements and the IAI played a fundamental role in these initiatives, but other organizations, in particular in Asia and Africa, also joined in the effort.
Many different types of initiatives were taken: public protest marches, information booths, occupation of land/lodgings, seminars, petitions, laying of the foundation stones of new houses , press conferences, etc. during which more than 100,000 people were directly contacted during the month of October.
Note that after the 2004 Zero Evictions Days, fewer than 70,000 hits were made on the website www.habitants.org, whereas this year there were over 151,000 hits, with an average of 6,100 hits per day and a record of over 14,000 on October 29th.
Thank you! These are significant results which help all of us in our struggle!
The need to share the results
The next step is an evaluation of the Zero Evictions Days.
It is difficult to assess its impact on public opinion, but we estimate that over 50 million people all over the world were made aware of the IAI’s proposals. As for the outcome of this initiative with respect to the objectives and issues discussed, we have to analyze how it has contributed to promoting the will to speak out, exchange experiences, unite in protest, and strengthened the impact of the proposals made by inhabitants’ associations on other parties.
How to participate in the Online Forum
As we said before, there will be, with the support of the Rome province, an
online forum from December 29 to January 29 2006, to which we invite all those involved in the Zero Evictions Days, those who signed the petition for the unity of the urban social movements and the IAI.
Aims:
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To share our assessment of the Zero Evictions Days (impact of proposals, follow-up at the local/regional/global level, relations between the urban social movements and other social movements, and with the government institutions, etc.)
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Proposals for the next moves to make (World and regional social forums, World urban forum, World habitants assembly. etc. )
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Proposals for projects (a warning system for housing rights violations, training/research in collaboration with the Urban People’s University, Popular Fund for Land and Houses, etc)
How to participate
The Forum will be open 24 hours a day from December 29 to January 29 2006: click here.
Just click on, to register.
You can write your analyses, proposals, suggestions in your own language.
So we ask you to be brief, (max 1.5 pages), use simple language, and have a clear title.
Our aim is to decide the next steps to take together on the basis of the results of the Forum.
For this reason we are counting on your participation and punctuality!
