Diwan Alomran announced the establishment of a partnership with the Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms (IARF), as part of its ongoing efforts to promote the concept of the right to adequate housing as a fundamental human right, and to support rights-based approaches to urbanism and urban development issues in Tunisia and the Arab region.
This partnership comes at a regional moment marked by escalating housing-related challenges, including rising living costs, increasing forced evictions, and the expansion of unjust urban development patterns, all of which contribute to social exclusion and the marginalization of the most vulnerable groups. These conditions underscore the urgent need for collaboration between research institutions and civil society organizations.
Adequate Housing as a Pathway to Dignity and Social Justice
The partnership between Diwan Alomran and the Intersection Association aims to strengthen public and rights-based awareness of the concept of the right to adequate housing in Tunisia, as articulated in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It seeks to highlight the core elements of this right and connect them to lived realities and relevant public policies.
The partnership also focuses on advancing public debate on housing from a human rights perspective, recognizing it as a fundamental prerequisite for human dignity, social stability, and the enjoyment of other rights—rather than merely a technical or urban planning issue detached from its broader social and political context.
Intersection Association: Human Rights and Research for Just Policies
The Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms is an independent, non-governmental human rights organization based in Tunisia. Founded in 2020, it works to promote concepts and practices of freedom, democracy, and human rights across the Arab region.
Through research, fieldwork, documentation, and reporting, the Association seeks to contribute to the development of public policies, legislation, and practices in line with international human rights and democratic governance standards.
The organization is led by a group of young researchers, activists, and legal professionals committed to monitoring and exposing human rights and freedoms violations, producing analytical studies that support decision-makers and civil society actors, and employing modern technologies to advance and implement human rights principles.
Diwan Alomran: Urbanism from an Integrated, Rights-Based Perspective
Diwan Alomran operates as a research institution dedicated to studying and analyzing pathways of development and urbanization from an integrated perspective that takes into account social, economic, and environmental dimensions, with the aim of supporting sustainable and just urban development.
The institution is guided by a vision that views urbanism as a dynamic system reflecting societal interactions and transformations, rather than merely a physical space. It works to develop policies and strategies that promote sound urban governance and support the right to the city, including ensuring adequate housing, access to basic services, availability of public spaces, and limiting practices that lead to exclusion or forced eviction.
Diwan Alomran is also committed to supporting urban practices that preserve natural resources, reduce environmental impact, and enhance resilience to climate change, while emphasizing community participation in shaping the future of their cities and ensuring equitable distribution of resources and services.
A Partnership at the Core of Diwan Alomran’s Vision
This partnership with the Intersection Association aligns with one of Diwan Alomran’s core principles: strengthening collaboration with regional, Arab, and international civil society organizations. This reflects the belief that protecting urban rights—foremost among them the right to adequate housing—cannot be achieved without collective action and the integration of research, advocacy, and field-based work.
Through this partnership, both parties aim to develop joint initiatives, awareness campaigns, and research and analytical content that contribute to strengthening rights-based understandings of housing in Tunisia and support fair and inclusive public policies.
Diwan Alomran and the Intersection Association affirm that this partnership represents an initial step within a broader trajectory of joint action toward more just cities, decent housing, and protected rights for all.
