Relationship Between Children's Homelessness in Developing Countries and the Failure of Women's Rights Legislation

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between women's and children's homelessness in the context of existing rights legislation and cultural attitudes. It argues that children's homelessness cannot be understood in isolation from the economic precariousness of their mothers and their inequality in relation to a range of human rights. The paper draws upon a recent study of homelessness in nine developing countries (Peru, Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and China) to highlight how, despite the adoption and ratification of a raft of protective instruments, political and cultural attitudes place women and children at risk of homelessness. It also highlights some examples of interventions to support women's and children's rights to a safe home.

Keywords:

• Homelessness
• Developing countries
• Street children
• Housing rights
• Women's rights

Notes

1. The seven main areas of investigation were: housing theory; current housing supply characteristics; current definitions of homelessness; what the median household would regard as unacceptable shelter; appropriateness of Western typologies; numbers of people involved in types of homelessness; systemic causes of homelessness, isolation or exclusion of homeless people; characteristics of homeless people; street children, typologies of street children; causes of street child phenomena; conditions of living; responses to homelessness; actors and agents. Within each of these, subsections were explored in detail.