Recently the United Nations Human Rights division had harsh words for the United States Of America. Among the issues raised; the moral and legal failures of local, state, and federal government. Not only failing to protect the rights of the poor, but also noting the explicit and intentional abuse of the rights of the poor.
Perhaps as public relations spin, there have been echoes amongst the organizations that receive payment to speak for the poor, as well as some of the government agencies that have been slumbering for so long. Whatever the reasons and motives, it is encouraging to see terms like human rights being used more widely, when addressing the systemic and chronic persecution of the poor and homeless.
Here are some recent examples, via the National Law Center On Homelessness And Poverty website (apparently the NLCHP is bringing a Constitutional challenge against the camping ban in Boise, Idaho!)...
Criminalizing Homelessness is Costly, Ineffective, and Infringes on Human Rights
http://usich.gov/blog/criminalizing-homelessness
From Wrongs to Rights: The Case for Homeless Bills of Rights Legislation
http://www.nlchp.org/HBoR_Press_Release_04_15_2014.pdf
3 Reasons to Address Homelessness as a Human Rights Issue
http://usich.gov/blog/3-reasons-to-address-homelessness-as-a-human-rights-issue
U.N. Human Rights Committee Calls U.S. Criminalization of Homelessness "Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading"
http://www.nlchp.org/U.N._Human_Rights_Committee_Calls_U.S._Criminalization_of_Homelessness_Cruel,_Inhuman,_and_Degrading.pdf
