By Marion Sandner

[This article was first published on Strasbourg Observers on May, 12, 2026, and we are grateful for their permission to share it here, with full attribution. This is the link to the original publication].

Decision on the merits in FEANTSA and FIDH v France (No. 224/2023)

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has published its concluding observations on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Netherlands.

The Radboud Law Clinic has published a compelling legal analysis for the Straat Consulaat entitled “Stigmatisation and Criminalisation of Homelessness through Regulation and Policy.” This report sheds light on how certain laws and regulations in the Netherlands contribute to the stigmatisation and criminalisation of people experiencing homelessness.

Across Europe, an estimated 1.2 million people are homeless. Many are forced to sleep on the streets, unable to access adequate housing or basic support. This figure, rising steadily since 2008, reflects a deepening housing crisis and growing inequalities, which disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, including young people, women, and even children.

By Eric Tars

Senior Policy Director of the National Homelessness Law Center

This article was first published on Strasbourg Observers on October 29, 2024, and we are grateful for their permission to share it here, with full attribution. This is the link to the original publication.

By Sarah Ganty

FNRS Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLouvain