“We have joined with Indigenous Peoples from across the world to bring together strong voices, calling for our Rights to Shelter and Safe Housing." - Mr Rod Little, Co-chair National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.
Last Tuesday the media launch for the 2019 World Indigenous Housing Conference was held at the Gold Coast Entertainment Center.
Congress for First Peoples of Australia welcomed organizers and participants who gather at the Gold Coast in May 2019 to discuss the housing needs of the world’s Indigenous peoples and develop strategies to address these needs.
Rod Little argued that housing should be considered as a human right.
Rod Little Co-chair, National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples stressed on the importance of housing for families’ safety and well-being. He argued that people know the importance of adequate and affordable housing.
In the sidelines of the launch, Rod Little took the opportunity to highlight the glaring contradiction in Australia whereby successive governments have failed to capitalize on record economic growth to deliver safe and adequate housing for the most vulnerable members of our society, especially those in remote communities.
"We have had the embarrassment of 3rd world housing in remote Australia," Rod Little said. “If successive governments were to listen to that need and respond accordingly rather than responding to the popularity of votes and if they address the need in community we’ll have a far better nation to live in as a caring nation. We will certainly live up to the standard of being a world standard nation,” Rod Little said.
Organizers of the he 2019 World Indigenous Housing Conference (#WICH2019) believe this event will offer a rare opportunity to put housing back at the center of the political discourse.
“We have joined with Indigenous Peoples from across the world to bring together strong voices. Calling for our rights to shelter and safe housing,” Rod Little said.
Rod Little further argued that housing should be considered as a human right. Because adequate housing is a key determinant of education, health and safety outcomes which are key components of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
The #WIHC2019 is a follow up to the very successful inaugural conference held in Vancouver, Canada in 2012.
