Cities
What?
Healthy Cities aim to enhance the physical, mental, social and environmental well being of
people who live and work in them. The Healthy Cities approach seeks to put health high on
the political and social agenda of cities and to build a strong movement for public health at
the local level. The concept is underpinned by the principles of the Health for All strategy
and Local Agenda21. Strong emphasis is given to equity, participatory governance and
solidarity, intersectoral collaboration, sustainable development and action to address the
determinants of health.
Healthy Cities was established in 1987 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional
Office for Europe, as a small-scale experimental project. This captured imaginations the
world over and expanded rapidly – and it is now a global movement with the European
initiative in its fifth phase.
In addition to the cities formally designated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, more
than 1300 cities and towns from about 30 countries of the WHO European Region are
involved in national Healthy Cities networks.
Why?
Urban health becomes increasingly important as urban populations expand and cities face
challenges such as poverty, violence, social exclusion, pollution, substandard housing,
unhealthy spatial planning and unsustainable development. Local action is an essential
component of national and regional strategies for health and sustainable development – and
Healthy Cities provides national and local governments with an effective means of dealing
with a wide range of health related issues.
How?
Successful implementation entails:
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Explicit political commitment to the principles and strategies of the Healthy Cities
Leadership in developing a shared vision for the city
Institutional change through the establishment of new organisational structures and
processes
Intersectoral partnerships, networking and cooperation
Phase V of the WHO European Healthy cities Network runs from 2009-2013. Its overarching
theme is Health and Health Equity in All Local Policies - and within this context the three
core themes are:
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Caring and supportive environments. A healthy city should be above all a city for all its
citizens, inclusive, supportive, sensitive nd responsive to ther diverse needs and
expectations.
Healthy living. A healthy city provides conditions and opportuntiies that support healthy
lifestyles.
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Healthy urban environment and design. A healthy city offers a physical and built
environment that supports health, recreation and well-being, safety, social interacton, easy
mobility, a sense of pride and cultural identity and that is accesible to the needs of all its
citizens.
Links
UK Healthy Cities Network Website
WHO Healthy Settings Portal – Cities
WHO Regional Office for Europe – Healthy Cities and Urban Governance
Alliance for Healthy Cities
Resources
Alliance for Healthy Cities Resources
WHO Regional Office for Europe: Urban Health Publications
WHO European Healthy Cities Publications
Contact
Agis Tsouros, Regional Adviser / Connie Petersen, Programme Assistant
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø
Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 17 17
E-mail: infohcp@euro.who.int