A/HRC/13/20 27. Examples of the criminalization of homeless persons and marginalized activities include (a) in Seoul, beautification efforts for the 1988 Olympic Games included the detention of homeless people in facilities outside the city;33 in preparation for the 2002 Football World Cup, local authorities in Seoul created a list of places where homeless persons were banned;34 (b) in Barcelona, the homeless were removed outside the city during the staging of the games;35 (c) in Atlanta, homelessness and related activities were made illegal and over 9,000 citations were issued against homeless people.36 6. Disproportionate impact on groups particularly vulnerable to discrimination 28. The negative legacy of mega-events is particularly felt by the most disadvantaged sectors of society. These groups are disproportionately affected by trends such as forced evictions, displacements, decreased availability of social housing, reduced affordability of housing, homelessness, dislocation from existing community and social networks, restriction of civil liberties and criminalization of homelessness and marginalized activities. Displacement and forced evictions due to beautification and gentrification tend to affect low-income populations, ethnic minorities, migrants and the elderly, who are forced to leave their homes and relocate in areas far from the centre of the city. Likewise, policies and special laws adopted to “cleanse” the city result in the removal of homeless persons, beggars, street vendors, sex workers and other marginalized groups from central areas and their relocation into special sites or outside the city. 29. Examples of the disproportionate impact on groups particularly vulnerable to discrimination include (a) in Athens, Roma communities were the main target of displacement;37 (b) in Atlanta, displacement was predominantly experienced by AfricanAmericans;38 (c) in Sydney, aboriginal communities were displaced from areas close to the Olympic sites in an effort to beautify the city;39 (d) in Beijing; most victims of evictions were migrant workers;40 (e) in Vancouver, the city is funding private security guards to remove homeless persons and beggars from commercial areas (A/HRC/10/7/Add.3 para. 87). C. Tensions surrounding mega-events: mobilization and negotiations 30. In many cases, affected communities and interest groups perceive that the initial proposal from the authorities for the organization of a mega-event may encompass violations of the right to adequate housing, such as the forced eviction of local residents, the criminalization of homelessness and other similar practices. In response, the affected population and social organizations mobilize to resist the proposal and demand its reformulation. In some cases, social resistance has resulted in negotiations with the concerned parties, the adoption of a different strategy and a redefined plan that incorporates the demands of the affected population and aims at protecting the rights of the local population. 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 10 Ibid., p. 198. Ibid., p. 27. “2012 Home Games”, op. cit., p. 15. “Fair play for housing rights”, op. cit., p. 198. Ibid. Ibid., p. 14. “2012 Home Games”, op. cit., p. 14. “Fair play for housing rights” op. cit., p. 199.