Pivot Legal seeks United Nations Committee support for homeless rights

VANCOUVER – Vancouver-based human rights group Pivot Legal Society hopes to win a powerful ally as it fights for adequate housing for Canada’s homeless.

Pivot lawyer DJ Larkin will speak before the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

The group alleges Canada is not meeting obligations to a section of a UN covenant protecting the rights of the homeless.

Larkin says Pivot will argue that Canada must immediately address a national housing crisis that contributes to violations of the rights of homeless.

The Pivot submission says Canada’s failure to pursue a national housing program has led to the ongoing criminalization and displacement of homeless people.

Larkin and the society hopes the UN Committee approves Pivot’s call for new laws ensuring appropriate standards of living, physical and mental health for all vulnerable Canadians.