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ISSUE: 5
QUESTION OF: Realizing the right to adequate housing and associated urbanization
challenges
CO-SUBMITTERS: China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Slovakia, Italy,
Romania
THE SPECIAL CONFERENCE,
Noting with satisfaction the work the UN Habitat organization has completing with
the construction of homes,
Appreciating the efforts of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(DESA) and the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have
put forth for sustainability in urban areas in the field of education,
Noting further the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),
Acknowledging the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 25 "Everyone has
the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and
of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social
services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability,
widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control",
Reminding all nations of the upcoming date of 2015, which marks when eight
Development Millennium Goals should be completed, including, “developing a global
partnership for development”,
Concerned that the WHO estimates about 100,000 annual deaths in Europe resulting
from illnesses due to inadequate housing and preventable diseases as well as countless
other shocking death tolls caused in developing countries,
Deeply concerned about the urban surge in overpopulated areas such as India, China
and Bangladesh to name a few and disturbed by the immense pollution that is one of
the main urbanization problems,
Taking into account the population explosion in cities that have a very high cost of
living and people living in poverty with poor health conditions,
Keeping in mind that the economic disparity that comes with urbanization problems
also causes an increase in crime rates and death tolls,
Perfectly aware that despite significant progress in the privatization of the housing
industry that the deregulation of supply and the liberalization of market conditions are
still a major issue,
Further appreciates the UNESCO theme of Building Sustainable, Inclusive and
Creative Cities by promoting “Education of Sustainable Urban Development”,
1. Encourages the facilitation of shelter and transport in rural areas to urban areas
that might help expand the population through:
Page 2 of 3
ISSUE: 5
QUESTION OF: Realizing the right to adequate housing and associated urbanization
challenges
CO-SUBMITTERS: China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Slovakia, Italy,
Romania
a) increasing funding in the UN Habitat to create adequate low cost
homes,
b) providing transports to the people working in the urban areas (i.e.
trains and busses) that can provide mass transportation and allow
children to attend school;
2. Requests that specific areas within urban areas that can be guaranteed safe
environment and provide low cost housing by:
a) allowing public transport in these areas that are in urban areas, but not
in the heart of the city,
b) channeling funds into new housing constructions and renovate existing
housing stock,
c) having several functions in these facilities such but not limited to a
resource center such as a library with encouraged donated books and a
first aid center;
3. Designates the control of illegal drugs and crime to the sole body of the
UNODC that can work with each individual country’s national sovereignty to
eliminate the widespread of urban drug abuse and crime by:
a) enforcing strict laws against the use of dangerous drugs that can spread
viruses and illness and well as harm oneself,
b) eliminating slums close to urban areas and in urban areas itself where
there are high rates of drug abuse and crime,
c) training UNODC professional peacekeepers that can be sent to these
urban areas and further train the staff to enforce these policies;
4. Urges all nations to increase education facilities through working with
UNESCO in urban areas that can ensure a sustainable future with:
a) the construction of public schools and employment of teachers and
staff to increase the national economy,
b) providing public and inexpensive transport to these places,
c) raising awareness of pollution by:
i. teaching students the effects of pollution which are detrimental
in urban societies at an early age,
ii. having the students create movements for this issue and
practice the methods of pollution reduction in their homes and
expanding the knowledge to adults,
iii. expanding campaigns through media (radio, television and
others) to increase environmental awareness;
5. Hopes to significantly reduce with the determination of the UN Environment
Program (UNEP) and the burning of greenhouse gases that prevail in urban
areas through:
a) providing transportation that is environmentally safe, such as but not
limited to hybrid cars, electric cars and the innovation of hybrid buses,
Page 3 of 3
ISSUE: 5
QUESTION OF: Realizing the right to adequate housing and associated urbanization
challenges
CO-SUBMITTERS: China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Slovakia, Italy,
Romania
b) creating alternative sources of energy from outside these urban areas at
each nation’s discretion with the help of the UNEP to solve this issue
by implementing devices such as but not limited to: windmills,
hydroelectricity and nuclear plants,
c) discouraging any other harmful fossil fuel burning activities;
6. Recommends all nation to consider the population they have and its’ growth
rate and accordingly create restrictions to the number of births that can tip off
the balance of population of each nation by setting fines and a more controlled
growth;
7. Invites WHO to continue its rigorous efforts in combatting infections from
poor housing and overall illness from urban cities by creating a substantial
fund for a basic healthcare system in the major and rapidly increasing urban
cities in populations that can provide a stable medical care;
8. Trusts that each nation in collaboration with DESA is working to combat
extreme poverty and discrimination by:
a) providing a mass quantity of jobs relating to each nation’s most
immediate needs,
b) working with DEAS, appreciating contributions for levels of economic
disparities to be eradicated,
c) promoting campaigns to minimize discrimination against people with
poor housing conditions;
9. Expresses its satisfaction with the World Food Program (WFP) and wishes to
expand this idea to the areas with most extreme poverty due to urbanization
and sustain every person as stated in their human rights;
10. Recommends all nations to enable people with illness, disability, old age or
widowhood to sufficient equal rights corresponding to each nations
sovereignty and providing them with a funds and specific employment that
they are able to accomplish;
11. Decides to remain actively seized upon the matter.