text: rights and whether it might ba beneficial to commission a Study on Housing Rights, similar to that done on the right to food, prior to initiating moves towards an international convention on housing rights. 121. It is increasingly recognized that land rights and agrarian reform are often central to the realization of human rights. The fulfilment of various economic, social and cultural rights show a direct relationship to land, such as the right to food, the right to housing, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to culture, the rights of indigenous peoples and others. The Special Rapporteur is fully aware of the delicate nature and controversy surrounding issues relating to land issues internationally, yet feels convinced that the time has come to give this fimdamental issue the serious attention it deserves. No question is more central to power relations within society or to issues of equality and income distribution than land. 122. Land rights and other interrelated concerns, although often forgotten or ignored, are recognized in several less frequently considered international texts, which by and large represent "soft law" initiatives. Can the Sub-Commission play a useful role in assisting with the transformation of these many principles into "hard law"? The body of international law encompassing land issues is much broader than generally thought and, for the sake of clarity, what follows are several of the more important delineations of land rights within these texts. 123. The United Nations Declaration on Social Progress and Development (1969) contains several interesting clauses. Part III (Means and Methods) states: "On the basis of the principles set forth in this Declaration, the achievement of the objectives of social progress and development requires the mobilization of the necessary resources by national and international action, with particular attention to such means and methods as:
analysis: The text discusses the importance of land rights and their relationship to various human rights, such as the right to food, housing, and an adequate standard of living. It also mentions the need for international attention and action to address these issues. Given the focus on land rights, human rights, and social development, it is likely that the text falls under the categories related to human rights and social development.