CALL FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY - ZERO EVICTIONS FOR THE INHABITANTS OF BARRIO LA CASCADA IN MEDELLÍN-COLOMBIA!

Dr. FEDERICO GUTIÉRREZ

Mayor de Medellín – DGRAD-ISVIMED

Street 44 N 52 – 165

Administrative Center for La Alpujarra

Medellín, Colombia

atencion.ciudadana@medellin.gov.co

CC to:

Dra. DANIELA MATURANA AGUDELO

Presidenta Concejo Municipal de Medellín

dmaturana@concejodemedellin.gov.co

Dr. GUILLERMO DURÁN

Personero Municipal de Medellin

Centro Cultural Plaza la Libertad Carrera 53A No 42 – 101

Medellín, Colombia

info@personeriamedellin.gov.co

Sra. LEILANI FARHA

Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on

 the Right to Adequate Housing

Geneva, Switzerland

srhousing@onchr.org

The representatives of the  Junta de Acción Comunal for the Cascada Sector (Santa Margarita), the Junta Civica Paraje El Pinar (Fuente Clara-Robledo) and of the local office of of the International Alliance of Inhabitants (IAI) in the city of Medellin, Columbia, have informed us of the imminent eviction of 21 families this coming 31of March. 2016 at 8 a.m. in the neighborhood of La Cascada . They  had an emergency meeting on Thursday, 10 March, 2016.

WE ARE REQUESTING:

The support and solidarity of the local, national and international community to demand the Municipality of Medellin, Colombia, the following

The representatives of the Junta de Acción Comunal for the Cascada Sector (Santa Margarita), have informed us  of the imminent eviction  of 21 families this coming 31 of March. 2016 at 8 a.m. in the neighborhood of La Cascada  by means of an evacuation order which does not reflect the present reality of the situation, of the deterioration of the grounds and of the houses, which require meticulous inspection by experts in the presence of the families and delegates of the JAC La Cascada. Otherwise, the procedure would be in violation of proper process and norms which govern the right to dignified housing.

To that effect we are stressing the points agreed upon by the community in various meetings from 2014, during 2015 and these last weeks of 2016 in order to emphasize the following:

1. We are requesting that there be NO evictions without support and the suspension of the evacuation orders, There are first guaranties of adequate and dignified housing, unless relocation is necessary (temporary and under the municipality in charge) while the housing at risk is being repaired. As mentioned above, because the resolutions and evacuation notices are based on outdated resolutions and reports, and as well are incomplete, have inconsistencies and are false, as indicated by DAGRD and the ISVIMED, since they do not reflect the current situation of stability These must be revised by experts house by house, in order to verify there is no unknown high risk as there was in 2008 and 2012, in which structural repairs had to be made and relief carried out  by residents and master workers.

2. We are asking that the actions of protection and recovery are taken as soon as possible in the La Cascada neighborhood, in order to accomplish the recommendations of Geological Study, the Geotechnical Study and the Hydrological Study  in the La Cascada neighborhood in the city of Medellin,  Contract 4600047016, 2013. If they are not carried out, the community will be exposed to a major risk and there is a threat of a major and arbitrary evacuation.

3. We are asking that the technical demolition and insurance of collapsed housing and that which is necessary to tear down, be without cost to the  residents, using techniques and special tools such as was done by the mayor’s office to address emergencies in areas of high revenues, such as the case of the collapsed towers Space in El Poblado, and other sites.

4. We are asking for the revitalization and structural upgrading of the residences which require,  under the direction of the municipality, with direct support, with urgent need and/or an improvement grant and the staff of civil engineers, architects and at least qualified personnel. As (mentioned) before, in consideration of the state responsibility in (matters of) deterioration of this area and of these dwellings, as was evidenced in the statement of August, 2010, issuedt by the Sala Novena del Tribunal Administrativo de Antioquia (Acción Popular, Juzgado 11 Administrativo de Medellín, Radicado 2010-228-01). As stated previously, furthermore, in consideration of the fact that the area has not been included in the risk zone of the current POT and its residents have legitimate properties registered in the relevant registry office.

5. We are asking that this be carried out by the work committee together with the  Junta de Acción Comunal of the district  of La Cascada, in order to define and plan for the recovery of the district in a unified way.

6. We are asking that the national, community and international regulations on Rights to dignified Housing be resp in terms of the territory, the land and the environment, and that the rights of the 500 residents of the district of La Cascada are fully respected. Furthermore, intangible rights (such as roots, social fabric, social relations and neighbourhood support, as well as the larger organization of the Junta de Acción Comunal, residency in the area for more than 30 years, among others) must be taken into account.

Note:  It is important to point out that Columbia has ratified (and therefore the municipal administration of Medellin) the Treaties and International Covenants wich recognize and protect Housing Rights, improving continuously the living conditions, taking appropriate measures to ensure the effectiveness of this right, and that eviction without re-housing is a violation of:

• The Universal Declaration of uman RightsHuman Rights (Art. 25), adopted and proclaimed by the Resolution of the General Assembly 217 of the United Nations on Dec. 10, 1948
• The International ovenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (Art 11), ratified by Columbia on Oct. 29, 1969
• The Convention on the Rights of Children, ratified by Colombia on Jan. 19, 1991
• The Convention for the Elimination of All Form of Discrimination Against Women (Art 14 and 15), ratified by Colombia on Jan. 19, 1982
• Article 51 of the Political Constitution of Colombia

We emphasize that the respect to this international regulations, including the General Observations of the CESCR Committee, which are authoritative interpretations of ICESCR of which Columbia is a part, and holds major judicial value above other regulations.