Contents
Introduction
Take part in World Habitat Day 2004
Previous World Habitat Day Celebrations
Scroll of Honour Award - Previous Winners
World Habitat Day 2003 Report
• Introduction
• Secretary-General’s message
• Executive Director’s message
• Habitat Scroll of Honour Winners for 2003
• Celebrations around the world
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Introduction
Every year, since 1985, when it was designated by the General Assembly, World
Habitat Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in October. This day has
been set aside by the United Nations for the world to reflect on the state of
human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter and to remind the
world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
The theme of this year’s World Habitat Day will be Cities – engines of rural
development. It underlines the importance of mutually beneficial linkages that are
essential for the development of both cities and rural areas. In this reciprocal
relationship, urban markets provide a powerful incentive for increased rural
production and income, while expanding rural markets create increased demand
for production of goods manufactured in urban areas. In the long run, cities drive
secondary and tertiary investment of capital derived from primary production in
rural areas.
This year, the global ceremonies will be coordinated from the Kenyan capital,
Nairobi, on Monday, 4 October 2004. The choice of Nairobi, Kenya, for the global
celebration of the World Habitat Day this year, is to highlight the phenomenal rate
and social-economic significance of the urbanization in the developing world, of
which Kenya is representative, mirroring the experience of many other
developing countries.
Cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America have the fastest urban growth in the
world. This is why, in choosing the theme, Cities – engines of rural
development, we want to underline the importance of treating urban and rural
issues holistically because they form part of a dynamic system in which the
linkages have to be strengthened. We also draw on lessons learnt and best
practices from the highly industrialized cities of Europe and North America
where 80 per cent of the total population now live in urban areas.
The theme Cities – engines of rural development thus seeks to generate ideas
on integrated approaches which reinforce the beneficial interrelationships rural
and urban areas as it is only by considering cities and urban areas as part of a
continuous dynamic system that we can truly create sustainable development
both cities and rural areas.
Organize a World Habitat Day 2004 event
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Organize a World Habitat Day 2004 Event
World Habitat Day provides an excellent opportunity to highlight key human
settlements issues. We would like to thank all our partners who in the past years
have organized awareness raising activities on World Habitat Day. In 2003, for
instance, World Habitat Day was celebrated in over 50 countries. The
celebrations were widely reported by the media around the world and this helped
immensely to highlight the problems of Water and Sanitation in the World’s
Cities.
This year, we call again on our partners in central government, local government,
civil society and the private sector to take part in organizing activities to raise
awareness and stimulate debate on the theme of Cities - engines of rural
development.
Guidelines
As a guide, here are some of the activities that you can help organize:
1. Governments may use the mass media, particularly newspapers, radio and
television, to draw attention to World Habitat Day celebrations through press
releases, press conferences, video and audio spots. Posters can also be
used.
2. Partners may draw attention to the problems and issues relating to ruralurban migration, the significance of linkages between urban and rural areas,
through press articles, radio and television documentaries and panel
programmes with policy makers, government officials, academics, journalists,
other professionals, and community representatives. Public information
campaigns, and use of popular theatre can also help to create awareness of
the problems and issues.
3. Governments, local authorities, NGOs and CBOs may use the Day to
publicise, reward and demonstrate tangible improvements resulting from
reinforced mutual relationships between rural and urban areas, such as
improvements in the living conditions of urban and rural poor populations.
4. Universities could organize competitions to find solutions to the problems,
while essay and painting competitions could be organized in schools on the
theme to create awareness and a sense of belonging in institutions of
learning as well as seek solutions.
5. The Day could be marked by fund raising, recreational and entertainment
activities like football matches, concerts, etc., and the proceeds used to
upgrade and extend services for the poor communities.
6. Postal authorities could issue special stamps to mark the Day.
7. Educational authorities could, in collaboration with appropriate ministries,
introduce rural-urban development issues into school curricular.
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Support from UN-HABITAT
As the lead agency for the World Habitat Day celebrations, and to support the
country-level activities, UN-HABITAT is developing information material on the
theme and will provide an information kit including a poster, and a short video on
the theme, which can be used by national world Habitat Day focal points, national
Habitat II focal points, all relevant government institutions, NGOs, CBOs, private
sector companies, the media, educational institutions, and other interest groups.
Information kits will be mailed to partners including Embassies and High
Commissions, Inter-governmental Organizations, United Nations Information
Centre offices, UNDP country offices and other UN agencies.
Let us know about your event
Please let us know if you wish to organize a local awareness-raising event by
sending an Email to whd@unhabitat.org. We would greatly appreciate it, if you
could include in your Email, as many details as possible about your planned
event. Also, when World Habitat Day is over, please send us a report on your
event, with details of media coverage and photographs if possible, and we will
post these on the World Habitat Day pages of our website so that all our
partners and the public can get a global view of the World Habitat Day
celebrations around the world.
Thank you for your continued support.
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Previous World Habitat Day Celebrations
Year
Themes
WHD Venue
Chief guest
1986
Shelter is my Right
Nairobi
USG, UNCHS (Habitat)
1987
Shelter for the Homeless
New York
SG, UN
1988
Shelter and Community
London
Archbishop of Canterbury
1989
Shelter, Health and the Family
Jakarta
President of Indonesia
1990
Shelter and Urbanization
London
Hon. Sir Geoffrey
1991
Shelter and the Living
Environment
Hiroshima
Mayor of Hiroshima
UN, New York
SG, UN
1992
Shelter and Sustainable
Development
1993
Women and Shelter
Development
UN, New York
SG, UN
1994
Home and the Family
Dakar
President of Senegal
1995
Our Neighbourhood
Curitiba
Mayor of Curitiba
1996
Urbanization, Citizenship and
Human Solidarity
Budapest
Minister of the Interior, Hungary
1997
Future Cities
Bonn
1998
Safer Cities
Dubai
Federal Minister for Regional Planning,
Building and Urban Development,
Germany
Director General Dubai Municipality, UAE
1999
Cities for All
Dalian
Minister of Construction, China
Jamaica
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Land and Environment
2000
Women in Urban Governance
2001
Cities without Slums
Fukuoka
Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture
2002
City-to-City Cooperation
Brussels
H.R.H. Prince Philippe
2003
Water and Sanitation for Cities
Rio De Janeiro
Mayor of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
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Scroll of Honour Award - Previous Winners
2003
Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson, Canada
Weihai Municipal Government, China
Mr. German Garcia Duran, Colombia
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, India
Ms. Nasreen Mustafa Sideek, Iraq
Pamoja Trust, Kenya
Mrs. Sankie D. Mthembi-Mahanyele, South Africa
Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative, Council (WASH), Switzerland
Ms. Zena Daysh, Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC), UK
Ms. Teolinda Bolivar - Venezuela
2002
C2C between Nakuru and Leuven, Belgium
Brazilian Institute of Municipal, Administration (IBAM), Brazil
Baotou Municipal Government, China
CITYNET based in Yokohama, Japan
Dutch Habitat Platform, Netherlands
Mayor Joan Clos, Spain
ENDA Tiers Monde Dakar, Sénégal
René Frank USA
John Hodges (Special Citation)United Kingdom
2001
Hangzhou Municipal Government, China
Ms. Pastora Nuñez Gonzalez, Cuba
Bremer Beginenhof Modell, Germany
Fukuoka City, Japan
Father Pedro Opeka, Madagascar
Centre on Housing Rights and Eviction, Switzerland
Television Trust for The Environment (TVE), UK
Asiaweek, Hong Kong
Chairperson and The Cooperating Committee for Japan Habitat Fukuoka Office
(Special Citation)Japan
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2000
Ms. Ana Vasilache, Romania
Ms. Caroline Pezzullo, U.S.A.
Mrs. Jacqueline daCosta, Jamaica
Women and Peace Network, Costa Rica
Ms. Mary Jane Ortega, Philippines
International Union of Local Authorities, based in the Netherlands
Ms. Sheela Patel, India
Mr. Charles Keenja, Tanzania
Ms. Mmatshilo Motsei, South Africa
1999
Ms. Habiba Eid, Egypt
Mr. Bo Xilai – Mayor of Dalian, China
National Slum Dwellers Federation, India
Mr. Alvaro Villota Bernal, Colombia
President Rudolf Schuster, Slovak Republic
Mr. Pierre Laconte, Belgium
Mr. Millard Fuller, USA
Hon. Kwamena Ahwoi, Ghana
Operation Firimbi, Kenya
1998
Programa de Mobilizacão de Comunidades, Brazil
Fu-Nan River Comprehensive Revitalization Project Chendu, China
Mayor Mu Suixin, Mayor of Shenyang, China
Forum Européen pour la Sécurité Urbaine, France
Prof. Akin L. Mabogunje, Nigeria
Vladimir A. Kudryavtsev, Russia
Association des Habitants d’el Mourouj 2, Tunisia
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1997
Sen. Oscar López Velarde Vega, Mexico
Mother Center Stuttgart, West Germany
South African Homeless People’s Federation, South Africa
Mayor Huang Ziqiang, China
Reinhard Goethert and Nabeel Hamdi, USA/United Kingdom
Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Canada
Mr. Peter Elderfield (Special Citation), United Kingdom
Mr. Radinal Moochtar, Minister of Public
Works (Special Citation)
Indonesia
1996
Hou Jie, Minister of Construction (Special Citation), China
Peter Kimm (Special Citation)
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Water and Sanitation for Cities – Report on World Habitat Day 2003
The global observances for World Habitat Day 2003 were marked in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme “Water and Sanitation for Cities”. At the same
time, equally important commemorations were held in different countries
around the world highlighting the urgent need to improve water and sanitation
conditions amongst the urban poor living in slums across the major cities of the
world.
In his message on the occasion, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
reminded governments that by agreeing to the Millennium Development Goals,
they had pledged to halve the number of people without clean water and decent
sanitation by 2015, and to improve the living conditions of at least 100 million
slum dwellers by 2020.
Audiences in many Rio neighbourhoods heard first-hand of water and sanitation
problems in a rapidly urbanising world, because at least 1 billion people worldwide suffer from the dangers and indignities associated with the lack of clean
water and adequate sanitation. Delegates in Rio de Janeiro took time to visit the
Cajú neighbourhood, a favela or slum that is home to almost 800 families, and
typical of the slums where almost 20 per cent of the city’s 1.1 million residents
live.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Johannesburg, South Africa; Dhaka, Bangladesh;
Tbilisi, Georgia; and scores of other countries around the world, World Habitat
Day was celebrated with fanfare, pomp, ceremony and warnings from local
and world leaders of worsening conditions in urban slums.
UN-HABITAT used the occasion to launch its flagship biennial publication The
Global Report on Human Settlements, which focuses on The Challenge of
Slums. In Rio de Janeiro, UN-HABITAT also unveiled the Spanish version of the
publication Water and Sanitation in the World’s Cities: Local Action for Global
Goals, and a commemorative musical CD called Rivers of Rio. Also launched
were the Brazilian Campaign on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and the
Brazilian Campaigns on Security of Tenure and Urban Governance.
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The Secretary-General, Kofi Annan’s message on
World Habitat Day 2003
WATER AND SANITATION FOR CITIES,
6 October 2003
The theme of World Habitat Day 2003 — “Water and Sanitation for Cities” —
highlights the need to provide the urban poor with clean water and decent
sanitation.
In a rapidly urbanizing world, where already half of the world’s population lives in
cities and towns, at least 1 billion people suffer from the dangers and indignities
associated with the lack of clean water and adequate sanitation. In Africa, as
many as 150 million residents, or 50 per cent of the urban population, do not
have adequate supplies of water, while 180 million lack adequate sanitation. In
urban Asia, 700 million people, again half the urban population, lack clean water,
and 800 million are without adequate sanitation. In Latin America, the figures are
120 million and 150 million respectively. Everywhere, poor people tend to pay
much more than the rich for water. Moreover, many governments, international
financial institutions and aid agencies have concentrated their efforts on rural
areas, assuming that the poor in cities are comparatively privileged when it
comes to the provision of water and sanitation, whereas it is becoming
increasingly clear that the number of inadequately served urban dwellers is much
higher than officially acknowledged.
Increased investment is critical, whether small-scale projects at the local level or
national efforts to build up essential infrastructure. Community participation, good
governance and public-private partnerships are equally important. And since as
much as 50 per cent of a developing country’s urban water supply can be wasted
through leakage or poor administration, greater emphasis must be placed on
management strategies, which can increase efficiency, improve maintenance
and, through better billing systems, raise the income of local authorities. To be
truly equitable, water management strategies and practices must extend to the
national and regional levels, and encompass all water users, including
agriculture, which accounts for more than three-quarters of all freshwater
consumption.
Cities and towns have always been centres of opportunity, but without adequate
shelter and basic services, urban environments can be among the most life
threatening on Earth. In agreeing on the Millennium Development Goals,
Governments pledged to halve the number of people without clean water and
decent sanitation by 2015, and to improve the living conditions of at least 100
million slum dwellers by 2020. On World Habitat Day, let us all pledge to do our
part to ensure adequate sanitation and clean water for all the inhabitants of the
world’s cities.
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UN-HABITAT Executive Director and Under-Secretary General
Mrs. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka’s message on World Habitat Day 2003
The theme this year of World Habitat Day on 6 October spearheaded by the
Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro is water and sanitation. Never before has there
been such clear international consensus that sustainable development starts with
health and dignity. These fundamental conditions of human development cannot
be met without sustained investment in safe water and basic sanitation.
According to UN-HABITAT estimates, 60 per cent of the world’s population will
be living in urban areas by 2015, the year set by world leaders to achieve the
water and sanitation related Millennium Development Goals. It is further
estimated that 90 per cent of the population increase between now and 2015 will
be in urban areas. And most of that increase will be in the inner-city slums and
squatter settlements of developing countries. In the slums of Nairobi, the bustees
of Kolkata or the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, providing safe water and basic
sanitation to the urban poor is a critical challenge facing the world today.
Recognizing this challenge, the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT has called
for concerted action by the international community to help developing
countries achieve the targets Millennium Development Goals related to water
and sanitation. The Commission on Sustainable Development will also focus on
water, sanitation and human settlements during the first cycle of its
deliberations (2004-2005).
A strong political commitment at both the national and local levels will be crucial
to achieving success. This was underscored by this year’s G8 Summit, which
adopted an Action Plan for Water, committing leaders of the world’s wealthiest
and most powerful countries to give priority assistance to poorer nations that
make a political commitment to place safe drinking water and basic sanitation at
the top of their poverty eradication and sustainable development agendas.
The urban water crisis must be recognized for what it really is a crisis of
governance -weak policies and poor management, rather than a crisis of scarcity.
Cities need sound policies and the political will to back them up; strengthened
institutions and trained managers to run them; a responsible private sector and
an enlightened public sector to work hand in hand; and finally, informed public
opinion and active participation of communities to draw upon the vast resources
of the civil society. In short, cities need an enabling environment in which all
stakeholders can pool their resources to meet their needs.
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Sanitation and hygiene promotion should receive priority in their own right. In
fact, the focus of the international community on water in the past has often
masked the growing problem of poor sanitation. This is the most dehumanising
aspect of the daily battle for survival of the urban poor. In countries around the
world, a publicly stated government policy on sanitation and hygiene is long
overdue.
There is an alarming decline in per capita investment in both water and sanitation
in the cities of most developing countries. The annual flow of resources to the
sector will have to increase all round if the Millennium Development Goal related
to water and sanitation is to be reached. In fact, these resources will have to be
doubled, at a minimum.
Systematic tracking and review of progress towards water and sanitation
targets will be equally important. Monitoring and assessment will also help to
more effectively target international cooperation for the poor.
World Habitat Day this year is an opportunity to build on the global consensus
to meet this critical challenge.
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Habitat Scroll of Honour Winners for 2003
National Association of Municipal Sanitation (ASSEMAE) - Brazil
For promoting water and sanitation services in Brazilian Municipalities. Founded
in 1984 in Brasilia, ASSEMAE is a non-profit entity that represents more than
1,700 Brazilian municipalities that manage the operations of water and sanitation
services.
Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson - Canada
For her outstanding contribution to placing water and sanitation issues high on
the global political agenda.
Weihai Municipal Government - China
This award was for outstanding improvements in shelter and urban environment.
Since 1987, Weihai Municipal Government has been working on a
comprehensive management project to improve the living conditions,
strengthening infrastructure, greening the environment, and managing pollution
and sanitation. The city has been honoured as the “National Hygienic City”,
“National Garden City”, “National Model City of Environmental Protection” and
“China Human Settlements and Environment Demonstration Award”.
Mr. German Garcia Duran - Colombia
This award was for defending the cause of sustainable human settlements
in key international negotiations.
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak - India
For developing and helping to build twin pit pour flush toilets all over India.
Commonly known as Salabh Shauchalaya, the cost of each unit ranges from
US$10 to 1000. Salabh has so far constructed over 1.2 million individual toilets,
liberating about 60,000 scavengers who have been provided with vocational
training and rehabilitation.
Ms. Nasreen Mustafa Sideek - Iraq
For her outstanding commitment to the welfare of the displaced and vulnerable
persons in Northern Iraq.
Pamoja Trust - Kenya
For playing a key role in upgrading informal settlements in Nairobi, which
includes providing slum dwellers with clean water and decent sanitation.
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Ms. Senkie Mthembi-Mahanyele - South Africa
For spearheading the South African Government’s strategy to ensure the delivery
of 1.45 million housing units over 8 years, housing 6 million poor people. This
strategy included transferring 400,000 old council homes, worth R32 billion, to
the people who had been previously renting them. This has benefitted about 2
million people.
Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council WASH) - Switzerland
For their contribution towards sanitation and hygiene for the urban poor. The
Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is at the forefront of
contributing to global human settlements developing and improving the quality of
life in cities and communities around the world. The WASH campaign has been
instrumental in raising water, sanitation and hygiene issues onto the political
platform - acting as a catalyst to increase both national and local political
awareness to enhance the quality of life for million below the poverty line in cities
throughout the world.
Ms. Zena Daysh - United Kingdom Commonwealth Human
Ecology Council (CHEC) – United Kingdom
This award was for setting up ComHabitat, the Commonwealth Habitat
Committee, which is committed to raising the profile of Habitat and to the
implementation of the Habitat Agenda within the Commonwealth.
Ms. Teolinda Bolivar - Venezuela
For her distinguished career in support of the urban poor. Ms. Bolivar has
worked on social and physical problems in low-income settlements, including
the legalization of land tenure in low-income urban neighbourhoods.
SPECIAL CITATION His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej, The King of Thailand
In Recognition of his Majesty’s outstanding contribution to sustaining habitats
and improving the quality of life of the people in cities and communities in
Thailand.
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World Habitat Day 2003 – Celebrations around the world
We would like to thank our partners for making World Habitat Day 2003 a
truly global occasion for highlighting the problem of Water and Sanitation in
Cities and other key human settlements issues. Below are some of the
activities that took place around the world:
Afghanistan
UN-HABITAT together with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
and the Kabul Municipality held a meeting on water and sanitation in cities.
Australia
It was a World Habitat Day with a difference in Perth, Australia, this year. As
Western Australia struggles with its rising homeless rate and a lack of affordable
housing, one organization is taking a simple approach to providing people in the
region with a roof over their heads and the skills to get back on their feet and off
the welfare system.
Using the occasion of World Habitat Day to launch its Habitat 21 programme, the
president of Beyond Shelter - Australia, Mr. George Fisher, said that overcoming
homelessness and ending its related counterpart poverty is what he hopes BSA
will achieve. “The key to breaking participants’ dependence on the welfare
system,” said Mr. Fisher “is through service enriched housing.” This method
ensures that participants in BSA are given homes which they can afford to pay
for in rent and should they decide to purchase the home. BSA’s unique Land
Trust provides homebuyers with a 99-year renewable lease at a very low cost.
“The land costs them practically nothing and houses are built to high architectural
standards by mostly volunteer labour which means the cost of the homes
become s very affordable,” Mr. Fisher said.
Where many organizations provide either one form of shelter or welfare,
Beyond Shelter - Australia is taking a distinctive approach and going one step
further. “We do not provide shelter. We are beyond shelter. When people are
ready to take the next step away from shelters, away from welfare
dependency, Beyond Shelter -Australia will provide them with a dignified
approach to the future.” The new Habitat 21 project launched on World Habitat
Day 2003 is designed to assist first-time homebuyer families with one or more
dependant children and a combined family income of not more than $40,000
Australian dollars (US$29,000).
Bangladesh
The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives in
collaboration with UNDP and UN-HABITAT celebrated World Habitat Day 2003
at meetings in 11 towns. The meetings were attended by community
development committees, local government institute engineers, elected
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representatives, and local and national press. The purpose was to review the
progress of the Urban Poverty Alleviation Project and to exchange best practices.
Belgium
The European Union’s Commissioner for Research, Mr. Philippe Busquin,
joined a number of his senior colleagues to celebrate World Habitat Day at the
United Nations Centre in Brussels, near the EU headquarters. The Day was
celebrated at the United Nations House in Brussels with participation by key
partners including those from the European Commission and other international
institutions. UN-HABITAT’s new Global Report on Human Settlements was
launched.
Botswana
The Government of the Republic of Botswana, through the Department of
Housing (DOH), in collaboration with other stakeholders including United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) marked the event to raise public
awareness and provide information on Habitat Agenda issues.
Brazil
The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro hosted he main World Habitat Day event in
2003 in a glittering ceremony with leading personalities from many countries,
governments, community organizations and individuals from around the world.
(See section on main celebrations)
Canada
The day was marked during the 8th World Conference of Historical Cities in
Montreal.
Cameroon
The Coalition de OGN et OCB du Cameroon oeuvrant dans le domaine des
Etablissements Humains (CONGEH) in Yaounde made a presentation on
alternative systems of potable water provision.
China
The Ministry of Construction coordinated World Habitat Day celebrations in
every city and presented National Human Settlements Award to selected cities.
Colombia
UN-HABITAT, UNDP-Colombia, the National Federation of Self-Help Housing
organizations (FEDEVIVIENDA), and COMPENSAR, a private national family
welfare agency, organized celebrations in Bogotá, that were broadcast on
national television. The Mayor of Bogotá, Antanus Mockus, outlined strategy
and ideas in the area of human settlements and urban development. Experts
and mayoral candidates held a panel discussion on municipal, public policy,
pro-poor policies, democracy and other matters relating to urban development.
Costa Rica
The Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements (MIVAH) of Costa Rica held a
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series of events that started on World Habitat Day, 6 October 2003, and
continued through 29 October 2003. These included the launching of the
National Competition on the Best Social Project in 2003, a Cultural and
Democracy Plaza featuring cultural, sports activities and information, public
forums on the “Quality of Life in our Human Settlements” at the auditorium of the
Federal College of Engineers and Architects. There was also a meeting on
“Territorial Planning in Costa Rica” in the Mini Auditorium of Social Sciences, and
on the “National Urban Development Plan” with the aim of analysing the urban
situation of the country. Awards were presented for the Best Social Project
developed in 2003.
Cuba
The Ministry of Housing of Cuba, together with UNDP-Cuba with participation
of the Habitat National Committee, marked the day and presented the Habitat
National Award for outstanding individuals and organizations.
Ecuador
UNDP-Ecuador and the Municipality of Guayaquil, with the support from UNHABITAT commemorated World Habitat Day at a special session of the Quito
City Council during the week 6-10 October. An exhibition on the Third Regional
Competition on affirmative actions to promote the participation of women in local
decision-making was held at the Municipality of Quito. From 15-17 October,
regional cities joined representatives from Gijon, Spain, in Quito for a meeting on
gender equity.
Egypt
The day was celebrated during the Global Meeting of the Sustainable Cities in
Alexandria. The meeting, which ran from 29 September to 2 October 2003, was
coordinated by UN-HABITAT and the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP). Over 100 partners working in sustainable urbanisation initiatives mainly
through the Sustainable Cities Programme (UNEP/ HABITAT), the Localising
Agenda 21(UN-HABITAT) Programme and the GEO Cities Programme (UNEP)
were participated.
Ghana
An inter-ministerial planning committee with representatives from the ministries of
Works and Housing, Environment and Science, Local Government and Rural
Development, and from UN-HABITAT led a series of World Habitat Day events.
These included radio and television discussions on water issues newspaper
articles, a television documentary on water supply, sanitation, drainage or waste
management problems, and a clean-up exercise to demonstrate and encourage
environmental cleanliness. The Water Resources Commission, the Ghana Water
Company Limited, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the Water
Sector Restructuring Secretariat and the Environmental Protection Agency, also
held a series of public meetings.
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Georgia
The Ministry of Urbanisation and Construction in Tbilisi, Georgia, organized a
round-table discussion to mark World Habitat Day in the Caucasus nations. The
talks looked into Habitat Agenda issues with reference to some UN-HABITAT’s
latest best practices and policy tools.
Haiti
La Fondation Haitienne pour l’Habitat et l’integration des sans-abri held a public
meeting at which the World Habitat Day message of UN-HABITAT’s Executive
Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, was broadcast.
Honduras
A conference and round table was organized by the Programa de
Reconstrucción Solidaria de Vivienda with participation from the Ministry of
Public Works in Tegucigalpa.
Hungary
Several organizations and authorities held meetings on the World Habitat Day
theme of Water and Sanitation for Cities in Budapest. In addition, the UNHABITAT information office published a series of articles in the monthly Falu
Város Régió (Village, City, Region) on the theme of the World Habitat Day
“Water and Sanitation for Cities”. As the theme of Water and Sanitation for Cities
is linked to the requirements for membership to the European Union, EC
guidelines aimed at improving the environment and the urban living conditions
were also sent out to partners including secondary and higher educational
institutions for insertion into their curriculum.
India
In Howrah, West Bengal, the Shibpur Dinobundhoo Institution held a seminar on
the theme of Water and Sanitation, attended by the Mayor of Howrah City, the
Minister in charge of Urban Development, the councillor of the local municipal
ward and members of the Legislative Assembly from the local area. Students,
teachers and institution staff participated in this seminar, where an awareness
campaign on safe water and basic sanitation for the nearby slums was launched.
The City Managers’ Association Orissa (CMAO) and National Institute of
Habitat Management (NIHM) held a series of meetings on water and
sanitation, water pollution and urban water supply, privatization of water and
sanitation, energy conservation in water supply, solid waste management, rain
water harvesting, and best practices in water and sanitation management.
The Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) hosted celebrations in
Hyderabad, with the Urban Management Programme of South Asia, the
Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the Municipal Corporation of
Hyderabad and the All India Institute of Local Self-Government with the support
of other local, national and international partners. The day’s celebrations included
a half-day symposium covering four sub-themes within the overall theme “Water
and Sanitation for Cities” aimed at creating awareness of Habitat Agenda issues,
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highlighting the situation of water and sanitation in South Asian cities, and
identifying lessons learned in the management of water and sanitation. It also
included exchanging ideas on initiatives best practices and their replicability, and
gaining agreement on an action plan to move forward decisions resulting from
the symposium.
The Valley Commonwealth Public School in Kashmir coordinated celebrations
involving 30 schools from Srinagar city.
The Hindu Media Resource Centre in Chennai held a media workshop 6
October on “Strategies for efficient water demand management”, covering areas
like irrigation in agriculture, economy and efficiency of water use in homes and
settlements, recycling of waste water and methods to meet the demand of the
eco systems. The KRITYANAND UNESCO club in Jamshedpur celebrated the
day at its rural working area under the theme “Water and sanitation for villages”
and on 15 October 2003 at its Headquarters under the theme “Water and
sanitation for cities”
Indonesia
The government of Indonesia commemorated the day in collaboration with UNHABITAT.
Japan
UN-HABITAT Fukuoka Office and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
Transport, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fukuoka Prefecture,
Fukuoka City and the Japan Habitat Association, organized a symposium on
“Water and International Cooperation – Community Building in the Developing
Countries”. It focused on the issue of “Safe Water Supply” and “Adequate Public
Sanitation”. After an introductory speech by Mr. Toshiyasu Noda, Director,
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of UN-HABITAT; Dr. Kenji Jinno of
Kyushu University made a keynote speech on “Water Issues in the Developing
Countries”, followed by a panel discussion by experts from academic, private and
public sectors.
Children in Asia and the Pacific participating in the 3rd World Habitat Day art
contest, drew on the theme of “Water and Cities of Our City/Town/Village”, and a
2004 calendar was made from these. The Fukuoka office organized a series of
exhibitions throughout Japan from September 2003 through January 2004 with
collaboration of its supporting organizations.
Kenya
In Nairobi, Kenya, just a few kilometres from UN-HABITAT’s world headquarters,
World Habitat Day was celebrated in Kiambiu slum. A few metres behind the
Kiambiu grounds where government figures joined diplomats and UN officials to
celebrate World Habitat Day, passageways between homes built of mud, sticks
and tin, reeked from puddles of dirty waste water in conditions of overcrowding
and misery.
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“The challenge of providing water is real,” Mr. Raila Odinga, Kenya’s Minister of
Roads, Public Works and Housing, told a crowd of several thousands gathered to
celebrate World Habitat Day. “Nairobi has experienced rapid population growth
and this has resulted in over-stretched water supply systems. This is worsened
by poor planning and congestion,” he said in a keynote speech. The ceremony
was also attended by the Minister of Lands and Settlements, Mr. Amos Kimunya,
representatives from local authorities, and various non-governmental
organisations. Mr. Odinga said that the demand for water and sanitation in urban
areas would increase in response to increased growth in urban population. In
Nairobi, he said only 77 per cent of the population enjoyed access to safe
drinking water, while an estimated 23 per cent of the city’s population had to
depend on other sources of water mostly regarded as unsafe. He deplored the
fact that about 50 per cent of treated water is wasted through leaks and misuse.
Slum dwellers suffer the brunt of the high cost of water, often being forced to pay
10 times more than those who get clean water piped to their homes.
Kosovo
The Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Mr. Ethem Ceku hosted the
World Habitat Day commemoration in Kosovo, with participation from a range of
specialized Kosovo agencies, UN organizations and members of the diplomatic
corps. The theme was celebrated in the context of the promulgation of the new
Spatial Planning Law, by the new UNMIK SRSG, Mr. Holkeri. The Law, drafted
with the assistance of the UN-HABITAT’s Urban Planning and Management
Project in Kosovo, provides for new urban plans. After years of conflict, most
medium and small towns in Kosovo are without clean water and proper
sanitation.
Malawi
The Centre for Community Organisation and Development (CCODE), a nongovernmental organization, which works with housing savings schemes, based in
Malawi’s urban settlements celebrated the day with involvement from the Water
Aid and Lilongwe Water Board. Celebrations were held in a Lilongwe squatter
settlement and featured life size models of water and sanitation facilities that the
urban poor can afford.
Malaysia
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government in collaboration with UNDP and
UN-HABITAT commemorated World Habitat Day 2003 and showcased initiatives
in the areas of sanitation and water crisis on the theme of “Water and Sanitation
for Cities”. Materials to raise awareness on the provision and use of water, such
as artwork, photographs and essays were also employed.
Mexico
During the week of World Habitat Day, a series of events were staged. These
included a workshop on legal instruments relating to human settlements. A
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seminar highlighting the most successful Latin American experiences in the
development and application of policies and instruments was also held.
Moldova
The Republic of Moldova marked World Habitat Day with a series of public
awareness events. These included a Mesmerising Moldova round-table
conference with government, civil society and UN representatives, and a
television special on human settlements problems in Moldova.
Mozambique
The Government of Mozambique marked World Habitat Day with key
partners.
The Netherlands
The Dutch Habitat Platform celebrated World Habitat Day at a conference to
discuss the economic values of Habitat in the De Reehorst centre in the city of
Ede, and showcased examples on how good housing and sustainable living
environments have a positive influence on the economy and vice versa. Topics
included secure tenure, the informal sector in cities in developing countries,
migrants and their economic ties with their home countries, migrant
entrepreneurship in Dutch cities, service exchange in neighbourhoods, and local
economic development projects from South Africa and Eastern European
regions.
Nepal
The Rural-Urban Partnership Programme of Nepal celebrated World Habitat
Day in 12 municipalities around the country with a series of events ranging from
a speech contest on the importance of water and sanitation to rallies, and radio
programmes. The Tole/Lane Organization distributed pamphlets on sanitation
as well as plastic buckets for household waste management as part of an
awareness campaign marking World Habitat Day.
Nigeria
The African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), a nongovernmental organization based in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, held a twoday National workshop in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Other activities included a national debate, broadcast by the Nigerian Television
Authority (NTA), the biggest single television network in West Africa.
Panama
The Ministry of Housing of Panamá (MIVI) organized World Habitat Day 2003
celebrations.
Peru
UNDP-Peru held a series of seminars/ workshops with the Ministry of Housing
and non-governmental organizations involved in human settlements and urban
issues. National Campaign Committee members (The Right to Adequate
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Housing for All) held activities ranging from a journalists’ competition on the
theme “The Right to Adequate Housing for All”, a forum entitled “Towards a
Decentralised Housing Policy”, with participation of the mayors of Metropolitan
Lima, micro-credit institutions and the social organizations. It also held a fair
entitled “The Contribution of Civil Society to Housing and Neighbourhood
Upgrading Schemes for the Poorest of the Poor and the Most Excluded”.
The Philippines
Activities to mark World Habitat Day included a conference on status of urban
governance in the world and in particular countries. An international seminar on
inner city revitalization and poverty reduction in the Asia-Pacific Region brought
together mayors/senior local government officials, community and business
leaders to exchange experiences, insights and ideas on city revitalization and
asset management as important strategies for urban poverty alleviation and
environmental improvement. A National Housing Convention organized by the
Government of the Philippines and UN-HABITAT was also part of activities
commemorating World Habitat Day.
Russian Federation
A round-table in Gosstrory focused on the theme of Water and Sanitation for
Cities. Participation included heads of the leading research institutes, dealing
with the issues of water and sanitation activities, representatives of Ministry of
Ecology and Water Resources, other interested organizations, representatives
of cities, and civil society.
Similar meetings were held in St.-Petersburg, Pskov, Astrakhan, Novosibirsk and
Vladivostock, aimed at raising public awareness on water and sanitation
problems and at finding effective solutions to them. Proceedings of the meetings
were to be published in the Russian version of UN-HABITAT’s quarterly
magazine, “Habitat Debate”.
South Africa
A conference entitled, “Urbanisation and Housing challenges: Cities in the
SADC region” was hosted by the Department of Housing of the Gauteng
Provincial Government (GDoH) in partnership with UN-HABITAT in the
Alexandra township of the city of Johannesburg. The conference was to
exchange ideas and learning on the best housing practices and policies within
cities in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and
other African cities. South Africa’s Ministry of Housing was represented and
UN-HABITAT’s delegation to the conference included the Director of the
Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States, Alioune Badiane.
Spain
The Ministry of Public Works held a seminar to discuss good practices, including
the practices that qualified among the 100 best practices of 2002. The 4th
Spanish catalogue of good practices was presented.
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Sri Lanka
In the capital, Colombo, a day-long programme attended by ministerial level
guests, among other participants, was held with a community forum. During the
forum at which low income urban communities participating in Sri Lanka human
settlements projects, including programmes of UNHABITAT, presented their
success stories and good practices in accessing basic services including water
and sanitation. Sri Lanka issued a special World Habitat Day Commemoration
Stamp. The occasion was well covered by the press, which also carried a
special newspaper supplement on the day. In addition to the National Habitat
Day celebrations planned in Colombo, the ministry and human settlement
groups arranged tree planting programmes and competitions in the regions
during the first week of October 2003 with the participation of Divisional
Secretariats, schools and local authorities.
Sudan
The commemoration organized by the National Council for Physical Planning in
cooperation with non-governmental organizations and other institutions was
attended by the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, the Resident
Representative of UNDP in Khartoum and other dignitaries. A workshop
addressed the World Habitat Day theme, Water and Sanitation in Cities, and the
Arabic Housing Day.
The Environmentalist Society, a local nongovernmental organization, marked
the day focusing on the area of environmental awareness and implementation
of relevant projects.
Sweden
The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) organized open houses in all eco-villages
and co-housing projects to raise the awareness of politicians, housing
entrepreneurs and the public on the concept of eco-villages.
Switzerland
A round-table took place in Geneva with panellists from international
organizations, non-governmental organisations, local government, and the
private sector. In addition to discussing Water and Sanitation for Cities, security,
governance and risk management are some of the other topics to be debated.
Public discussions followed the round-table.
Tanzania
In Dar es Salaam, the Women’s Advancement Trust, a non-governmental
organization focusing on empowering women through education and training in
human settlements, assessed how water as a resource has impacted housing
development in informal and formal settlements of Dar es Salaam. The aim was
to involve stakeholders from all walks of life, including NGOs, community based
organizations, government institutions, the media and human settlements
activists, to share experiences and information.
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EcoVentures International, a nongovernmental organization, involved students in
Lushoto in a brainstorming exercise on water related issues and uses in their
area to solicit feedback on environmentally friendly business ideas that they have
developed. The aim was that the good ideas could form the basis of actual startup businesses.
Uganda
Celebrations in Kampala included the launching of plan of action for a one-year
initiative relating to safe water distribution, sanitation and waste management
aimed at realizing tangible outputs.
United Kingdom
The Department for International Development (DFID) marked the World Habitat
Day in the United Kingdom by holding an event in its London headquarters.
Minister of State for International Development, Hilary Benn, MP, delivered a
speech to an invited audience to reaffirm the UK Government’s commitment to
the Habitat agenda, and to the related Millennium Development Goals in
particular.
CARE International UK also marked World Habitat Day.
United States of America
In New York, a panel of eminent persons discussed the theme Water and
Sanitation in Cities at the United Nations Headquarters. They included mayors
from cities in the US, representatives from Sister Cities International, and nongovernmental organizations including the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All
(WASH). Ambassadors, representatives of Permanent Missions, NGOs, UN
Agencies and other partners attended.
Washington The National Coalition for the Homeless marked World Habitat Day
as part of their annual conference on Capitol Hill. The commemoration included
the launch of 2003 Global Report on Human Settlements highlighting the
challenges of slums.
Venezuela
The National Housing Council of Venezuela marked the day in Caracas during
which two special prizes were presented: The National Habitat 2003 prize, and
the National Prize for Mass Communication, Community and Settlement
Development 2003.
The Municipality of Maracaibo, and the University of Zulia, marked World
Habitat Day with the launch of a local micro-credit system for improving housing
and other urban infrastructure with local community based organizations.
Zambia
The Infrastructure and Support Services Department, which deals with Water
Supply and Sanitation led the celebrations for the day.
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