Hanoi, 19 May 2014—UN-Habitat and its partners last week held a policy dialogue on housing rights in Vietnam.

The Policy Dialogue "Right to Adequate Housing: Roles of Communities in Housing Process" was organised by UN-Habitat, Associations of Cities of Vietnam (ACVN), Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) in cooperation with committees of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as well as Cities Alliance (CA).

It drew participants from the National Assembly, Central Steering Committee for Housing and Real Estate Market from Ministry of Construction, national and international experts from different organisations, institutes, associations as well as representatives from local communities.

Mr. Tran Dinh Long, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Law who opened the Policy Dialogue said: Right to adequate housing is basic human right that the Constitution recognized and legal system is updating to guarantee that right. When Vietnam joined international treaty, it included the content about right to adequate housing. It also showed the commitment of Vietnam State and Government. The State has regulation about policies, land, finance, credit and housing process connects closely with regulation completion process".

In his speech, Mr. Nguyen Quang, the Habitat Programme Manager said: We need to clarify right to adequate housing so that everyone understands their roles in housing process, especially roles of the State and community. Right to adequate housing does not require the State to build all houses for its citizens but the State needs to create enabling conditions and legal frameworks and suitable solutions so everyone can participate actively with the State to develop housing sector".

"Communities play vital role in housing process. They can work together to offer many creative solutions. Housing development with participation of community is sustainable approach because they can mobilise resources to develop, upgrade and maintain. With the support from national and international organisations, I believe community are key factors in housing process", Mrs. Vu ThiVinh, General Secretary from ACVN said.

The outcomes and collected opinions during this policy dialogue will be consolidated and delivered to the National Assembly and other relevant government agencies as well as all participants and the public.