Madame President
I want to thank the rapporteurs for their excellent reports. I will use this opportunity to focus on the one on “Analysis and guidelines to guarantee the right to housing,”. The report is both comprehensive and detailed and I fully endorse its recommendations as described in the report.
Today I want to highlight three areas: housing for young people; housing for low-income households; and housing for persons with disabilities. This includes meaningful participation of youth and vulnerable communities in housing policy design, as the Assembly invites national parliaments to ensure.
Even in Iceland, there has been a shortage of housing. Although construction has increased greatly in recent years, we still have a long way to go. Prices and rents remain very high. There are cases of people paying up to 70% of their income on rent, and around 40% on mortgage payments. It goes without saying that low-income families renting on this market have limited resources left to provide their children with decent nutrition, clothing, not to mention participation in other activities.
The current emphasis in Iceland is on affordable supply. Non-profit housing associations have been established, and pension funds are increasingly exploring participation in housing investments. The focus is on building smaller, cost-effective apartments that young people and low-income groups can realistically access.
Finally, housing for persons with disabilities requires urgent attention. Much of the older housing stock is not accessible for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. Our aim should be environments that are accessible and adapted to needs, making life easier, healthier, and friendlier for everyone—so that special solutions become the exception rather than the rule. The key point is this: it is not the disability itself that creates the barrier; it is the built environment that prevents equal participation.
Thank you.