The human right to adequate housing is enshrined in international law. The right to adequate housing can be traced to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was unanimously adopted by the world community in 1948. Since that time, the right to adequate housing has been reaffirmed on numerous occasions and further defined and elaborated. A key component of this right is habitability of housing, which should comply with health and safety standards. Therefore, the right to adequate housing provides an additional tool for advocates and others interested in promoting healthful housing and living conditions and thereby protecting individual and community health.

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The United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (Sub-Commission) met at the Palais des Nations, the European Office of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30July through 17 August 2001 for its fifty-third session.' The Sub-Commission is a subsidiary body of the UN Commission on Human Rights (Commission)" and is comprised of26 independent human rights experts, elected by the Commission, who act in their personal capacity rather than as government representatives. Under the principle of geographic distribution, the Sub-Commission Fredrikson and Byron Professor of Law,University of Minnesota; Member, UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The authors would like to thank Penny Parker, Joe 'Chip' Pitts III, D. Christopher Decker, and AnneJohnston for their excellent work and indispensable help during the 2001 Sub-Commission session. Legal Officer, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE);J.D. cum laude,

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This article reviews recent developments at the United Nations on housing and property restitution for the return of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS). In August 1998 the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights took an innovative step towards facilitating the voluntary return of refugees and IDPS with the adoption of un Security Council Resolution 1998/26. A descriptive analysis of that resolution and the subsequent developments at the United Nations are presented. Further, the article advocates and solicits support for continued United Nations developments in this regard.