“Homeless, not guilty”, an online webinar on the decriminalisation of poverty, status and activism

BelgiumEconomic, social and cultural rightsFreedom of expressionHuman rights defendersSecurity and freedom

The Fondation Abbé Pierre, FEANTSA and Avocats Sans Frontières are organising an online webinar as part of the global campaign to decriminalise poverty, status, and activism.

It is estimated that there are around 1.2 million homeless people in the European Union. This alarming figure has been rising steadily for several decades, mainly because of the housing crisis and growing inequalities.

Faced with this situation, emergency accommocation centres have reached their maximum capacity and social benefits are proving insufficient.

As a result, people are forced to live in public spaces, which they occupy by begging, creating informal living spaces or occupying empty buildings.

In several European countries, instead of offering a solution to the structural causes of this crisis, authorities are adopting a security approach and tending to criminalise homelessness or the activists who help them.