Dear Mayor Robertson, Deputy Minister Steenkamp, Assistant Commissioner Mercer:
I am writing to you to express the Impact on Communities Coalition’s full support for an independent fact-finding mission to be conducted during the 2010 Olympics which would focus on housing and civil liberties. These two areas have been areas of ongoing concern not only for the Impact on Communities Coalition but many civil society organizations in the Lower Mainland. As well, the Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, a Geneva based NGO has also cited these areas of particular concern in their 2007 report on mega-events.
This fact-finding mission could also serve as a basis point for reforming the Olympic bid process – one of the root causes behind some of the regular impacts it has on cities around the world. Certainly, as a representative of the Impact on Communities Coalition, I would public support any steps to establish such a mission as a pre-emptive and preventative approach prior to the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Olympics.
During the recent visit of Miloon Kothari, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, I raised the idea of him possibly leading such a mission. Mr. Kothari has met with the International Olympic Committee, is linked with the international human rights system and is knowledgeable of the situation in Vancouver. In my view, he would be ideally suited to carry out the kind of credible and rigorous work that is necessary to document the situation on the ground while we host the 2010 Olympics. It would also be a proactive way for governments to meet some of their requirements under the Inner City Inclusive Commitment Statement.
Patsy George, the local president of the United Nations Association chapter in Vancouver, has already agreed to voluntarily host Mr. Kothari if either the City of Vancouver or the Province of BC would agree to cover the costs of his time here. While Mr. Kothari is extremely busy, he did express an interest to me in making time to do this work from February 12th to 28th.
Furthermore, the new Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing is going to be releasing a report on the impact of mega-events from an international human rights perspective in March 2010. A report by Mr. Kothari would be helpful in providing information for that document.
If there is anything that I can do to help facilitate this moving forward, please do not hesitate to contact me (778-895-5640).
Sincerely,
Am Johal
Chair, Impact on Communities Coalition
Tags: 2010 Olympics, Bud Mercer, Gregor Robertson
