A/HRC/19/43 other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status in access to health care and underlying determinants of health, as well as to means and entitlements for their procurement. 31. The Committee has stressed that even in times of severe resource constraints, the vulnerable members of society must be protected by the adoption of relatively low-cost targeted programmes. States have, therefore, a special obligation to provide those who do not have sufficient means with the necessary health insurance and health-care facilities, and to prevent any discrimination on internationally prohibited grounds in the provision of health care and health services, especially with respect to the core obligations of the right to health. Moreover, the Committee has recalled that inappropriate health resource allocation can lead to discrimination that may not be overt.47 As such, initiatives taken to include noncitizens in national health insurance systems have been welcomed. 48 32. In practice, however, the enjoyment of the right to health by non-citizens can be severely restricted, especially as compared to the services often available to citizens. The causes range from formal exclusion from some or all public health-care services to practical inability to access such services due to fees charged to non-nationals, absence of a regular immigration status or lack of any basic identity documentation.49 For instance, while acknowledging the efforts of a State regarding health care and the improvement of living conditions, the Committee expressed concern at the very high rate of HIV/AIDS among persons belonging to the most vulnerable groups, including non-citizens and persons without any identification documents, as well as at their access to health care. 50 I. Right to adequate housing 33. The right to adequate housing is one component of the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of living and is recognized in article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The right to adequate housing has been defined by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as the right to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity. 51 Key elements of this right, also considered part of the core obligation of the Covenant, are access to at least basic shelter and the prohibition of forced eviction. 52 As with other economic, social and cultural rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called upon States to guarantee the equal enjoyment of the right to adequate housing for citizens and non-citizens.53 34. In practice, however, persons arbitrarily deprived of their nationality face numerous obstacles to enjoy their right to adequate housing. States sometimes impose restrictions on 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 12 General comment No. 14, paras. 18 and 19. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, concluding observations: Saudi Arabia (CERD/C/62/CO/8), para. 6. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, concluding observations: Nepal (E/C.12/1/Add.66), para. 29; Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, concluding observations: Saudi Arabia (CERD/C/62/CO/8); Slovenia (CERD/C/62/CO/9), para. 14; Bahrain (CERD/C/BHR/CO/7), para. 14; E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/23, para. 7; van Waas, “The situation of stateless persons” (footnote 42 above), pp. 26-27. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, concluding observations: Mozambique (CERD/C/MOZ/CO/12), para. 18. General comment No. 4 (1991) on the right to adequate housing, para. 7. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comments No. 3 (1990) on the nature of State parties’ obligations, para. 10; and No. 7 (1997) on the right to adequate housing – forced evictions, para. 1. General recommendation No. 30, para. 32.