Multi-Stakeholder Guidelines on Mega-Events and the Protection and Promotion of Housing Rights

The importance of mega-events in fostering cooperation and dialogue among the world's peoples and nations is indisputable. Such events, through the bringing together of humanity in all its diversity to celebrate excellence in sport and other pursuits, have the potential to promote peace and global solidarity. However, the staging of such large events frequently results in large numbers of people being forcibly evicted from their homes and plunged into severe economic hardship. This is one of the unfortunate darker sides of mega-events, most of which are founded on the admirable ideals of promoting and protecting universal ethical principles. These events have the potential to unite people from all corners of the world in pursuit of common goals, and yet they unfortunately can also cause misery and hardship to large number of people. COHRE's Multi-Stakeholder Guidelines on Mega-Events and the Protection and Promotion of Housing Rights call on all mega-event stakeholders to play their part in promoting and protecting housing rights, so that everyone, including the local residents, can reap the benefits of hosting a mega-event. They should become a standard for all future mega-events.