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Nairobi, 12 February 2001: The 18th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements was inaugurated today by H.E. the President of the Government of the Republic of Kenya, The Hon. Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. The President welcomed the delegates to Kenya and reminded them of the urgent need to improve the conditions in human settlements in developing countries and in particular in Africa. Over 500 delegates including Ministers responsible for Human Settlements issues, Mayors, Parliamentarians, representatives of local authorities, non-governmental organisations and other civil society organisations assembled in Nairobi to attend the 18th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements. The Commission on Human Settlements acts as the governing body of UNCHS (Habitat) and is composed of 58 states. This UN body acts as the custodian of the Habitat Agenda, a practical road map to an urbanizing world, that was adopted by 171 governments at Habitat II in Istanbul in 1996. At the opening ceremony, Lisa Ochola, a 13 year old Kenyan school girl told the delegates about the children’s vision for the future. A moving water ceremony was performed by over 200 children representing all sections of society including street children and Aids orphans. The children launched a ‘future vessel’ and called upon the delegates to ensure that the soul of our cities would flow with water. A message from the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, was read to the Distinguished Delegates by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements. The Secretary-General pointed out that, at the Millennium Summit in New York last year, a range of commitments were made by world leaders. Many of these development goals will contribute to progress in the area of human settlements. However, a specific pledge was made to improve by the year 2020, the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. He called upon the Commission and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements to play a leading role in helping the international community to meet these challenges. In her opening address, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka stressed the urgent need to manage the problems of urbanisation and called upon the commission to help establish a culture of solidarity and inclusiveness in our cities and human settlements. “Cities will not become liveable places, until we learn to practice the forms of traditional solidarity found in villages where everyone is provided for, however modestly,” said Mrs. Tibaijuka. “With over a billion poor people without adequate shelter and basic service, this is the time for the Commission on Human Settlements and the international community to commit resources to managing human settlements.”
Amongst the key issues that will be considered by the Commission at this session will be the urgent need to strengthen and revitalise the Centre so that it can be an effective UN system wide focal point for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. The Commisson will be presented with the work programme of UNCHS (Habitat) and the proposed budget of 2002 –2003. Dialogues will also be held to present reports on Habitat’s campaign for Secure Tenure and Good Urban Governance. Other issues to be discussed will include the need for greater international cooperation and the role of local authorities. Also to be discussed are lessons learned from best practices and the need for partnerships in achieving adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development. The need for partnerships was reinforced by Mr. Klaus Toepfer, the Director General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi and the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. As he stated in his opening speech “there can be no global environmental sustainability without the sustainability of human settlements.”
The meeting of the Commission comes one week before the Second Preparatory Meeting for the Special Session of the General Assembly for overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, commonly referred to as Istanbul + 5. The meeting is scheduled to take place later this year at UN headquarters in New York from 6 to 8 June. In his farewell speech, the outgoing Chairman of the Commission H.E. Germ?n Garc?a-Dur?n, the Permanent Representative to Habitat, stressed the importance of the preparatory meeting pointing out to the delegates that, this year, the Commission had a special responsibility in ensuring the success of the preparatory process. Istanbul + 5 will be where governments will reaffirm their commitment to improving the living environment in cities, town and villages.
After the
inauguration ceremony, the 18th Commission elected H.E. Sid-Ali
Ketrandji, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Algeria to Habitat
as the chairman of the 18th Session. The 18th
Commission on Human Settlements will meet from 12- 16 February, this will
be followed by the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for
Istanbul + 5, which will meet from 19-23 February. strengthening of
UNCHS (Habitat). For further information, please contact: Sharad Shankardass or Zahra A. Hassan, Media & Press Relations Unit, UNCHS (Habitat, ) Tel: 624153; 623151, Fax: 624060; E-mail: habitat.press@unchs.org, Website:
http://www.unchs.org/
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