HABITAT II HEARS CALLS FOR URGENT ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE SECTORS OF SOCIETY
Press Release
HAB/121
HABITAT II HEARS CALLS FOR URGENT ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE SECTORS OF SOCIETY
19960604 (Received from a UN Information Officer.)ISTANBUL, Turkey, 4 June -- Urgent attention must be paid to the needs of vulnerable sectors of society such as street children, disabled persons, the urban and rural poor, including women in poverty, the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) was told this morning as participants continued their general exchange of views on the state of human settlements.
Several speakers also said the draft "Habitat Agenda" should provide guidelines on the problems of the gap between the rich and the poor, homelessness, crime and inadequate provision of water and sanitation services. Sustainable rural development should also be addressed to help slow migration of people into the cities.
Speaking during this morning's general exchange of views were: the Minister of Social Affairs of Iceland; the Minister for Agriculture of Lebanon; and the Minister of Environment and Housing of Jamaica.
Also addressing the meeting were the representatives of Peru, Mexico, Russian Federation, Denmark, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and Tunisia. The Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Holy See also spoke.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also addressed the Conference.
Also making statements this morning were a representative of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities and the President of the All India Women's Conference.
General Exchange of Views
JOSE AYALA-LASSO, High Commissioner for Human Rights: The right to adequate housing has been recognized since the adoption of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Article 25 of that Declaration states that everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living and specifies housing as a component of that right. The right had been built into several legally binding human rights instruments with a view to ensuring the right of all persons to housing, to eliminate racial and gender discrimination in housing and to protect the rights of women, children, refugees and workers.
The position of the High Commissioner on the "Habitat Agenda" was circulated unofficially at the Preparatory Committee sessions held in New York last February. There is confidence that Member States will reach consensus on including issues regarding the right to adequate housing in the "Agenda".
LIUS KISHIMOTO HIGA, President of the Materials Bank of Peru: The diversity of Peru obliges the Government to find solutions in keeping with the specificity of each region. Out of a population of 23 million, 3 million reside in shanty towns. Peru's high population growth has created a demand for approximately 70,000-80,000 housing units every year. About 8 million people lack basic sanitary facilities. About 2 million live as squatters, 80 per cent of whom build their inadequate dwellings.
To ensure equity in human settlements, improvement in standards of living, sustainability of urban development and the eradication of poverty, governments must pursue comprehensive planning for both urban and rural areas simultaneously. The Peruvian Government has allocated over 40 per cent of its budget to address social problems, such as land distribution, the improvement of urban dwellings and the provision of productive habitats. The State must promote productive housing, a process requiring the participation and creative management of all sectors.
PALL PETURSSON, Minister of Social Affairs of Iceland: A number of complicated factors have in recent years influenced regional development in Iceland. This has meant increased rural-urban migration which has resulted in reduced populations in rural communities while the capital area is beginning to show characteristics of large cities and the resulting problems. However, the population displacement has not been as drastic as in other countries. In Iceland, there have been substantial improvements in housing which are now among the best in the world. The provision of satisfactory housing for the whole population is a priority of the Government.
In Iceland, as in many other States, human settlement and the well-being of the entire population depends on the state of the ocean. In developing human settlements, States must act to protect the marine environment and implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities adopted in Washington last year.
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ENRIQUE BUJ FLORES (Mexico) The draft Agenda should contribute substantially to guiding the efforts and polices of governments, the international community and the partners. It must stress joint solutions without ignoring the role of governments. Due consideration should be given to defining the institutional mechanisms to ensure follow-up and the implementation of Conference goals. The draft Agenda should provide guidelines on the problems of the gap between the rich and the poor, homelessness, crime and the inadequate provision of water and sanitation services. There should be renewed commitment to more technical cooperation, the promotion of training and the exchange of information. Financial commitments should be made in order to make the agreements of Istanbul a reality.
RENATO R. MARTINO, Secretary of the Pontifical Council of the Holy See: The Conference must stress the need to provide access to shelter for all people, find solutions to the problems of cities and clearly state the right to adequate shelter. Policies should encourage the formation of strong families and stable marriages as the best way to eliminate one of the underlying causes of homelessness. The shelter needs of vulnerable groups such as street children, disabled persons and women in poverty should be highlighted. The needs of those in poverty should be met as they will not be able to gain from the best-designed market mechanisms. The final document should pay attention to the need for religious buildings in human settlements.
VLADIMIR STORCHEVUS (Russian Federation): International cooperation is imperative to achieve progress in the improvement of human settlements. The Russian Federation has actively participated in the work of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). Housing reform is a priority of the Government of the Russian Federation, within the context of economic reform. The right to housing is enshrined in the country's laws. The global plan of action being negotiated should be universally applicable. The needs of the countries in transition have not been adequately addressed. Issues such as the guarantee of low-cost housing, housing legislation and the problems of rural areas and small towns have not been adequately dealt with.
The countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have expressed great interest in increased cooperation with Habitat. Cooperation with them could focus on assistance in attracting investors, the development of preinvestment projects and the evaluation of national projects. The role of Habitat in the improvement of human settlements should be enhanced.
KNUD OVERGAARD (Denmark): In addressing the issue of human settlements, emphasis must be placed on three areas: the democratic aspect of human settlements, their sustainability and their quality. Tenant democracy has been developed in Denmark and would be shared in detail with delegates at another forum. Residents themselves should be involved in the planning,
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shaping and operation of housing and urban development. In Denmark, as in other developed countries, human settlements have not evolved as sufficiently sustainable cities. It is important to exchange experience gained in the area of ecological housing and urban development.
Denmark is ready to share its experience in policies dealing with affordable housing. More international cooperation and exchange of knowledge on the provision of sustainable and affordable housing and building may ease the otherwise long and individual journeys to adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements.
Mr. SUYONO, First Assistant to the Minister for Housing of Indonesia: The Conference should strive to involve all sectors of society in a partnership. A new urban contract should encourage coalitions with other actors to share and participate in the responsibilities of the central authorities. The partnerships should involve the private sector, non- governmental organizations, the media, local authorities and national governments.
Governments should institute such poverty eradication policies and strategies as capacity-building, to ensure that the vulnerable sectors of society will not be marginalized. Sustainable rural development should be addressed to help slow migration of people into the cities. The capacity of Habitat should be enhanced to enable it to assist developing countries in implementing the Habitat Agenda.
WHAN-BOK CHO, Deputy Director-General, International Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea: Continued economic growth in the context of sustainable development should be given priority attention in the "Habitat Agenda". Good governance at all levels of society should be achieved and given full attention at the Conference. The concept of partnerships should be given concrete form in Habitat II. Partnerships should include local authorities, the private sector and non- governmental organizations.
Sustainable development is essential to human settlements development. The Habitat Agenda will fail if it does not appropriately discuss environmental concerns. Existing international cooperation and its institutional mechanisms should be enhanced to ensure increased flow of resources to developing countries.
CHAOUKI FAKHOURY, Minister of Agriculture of Lebanon: Following the end of its turmoil, Lebanon implemented a $1.4 billion emergency plan to rehabilitate its infrastructure. It is implementing a 10-year development and reconstruction plan (1993-2002), including a detailed plan for the sustainable
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development of human settlements. The plan includes public investments of some $11.7 billion, with another $20 billion from the private sector.
Human settlements in Lebanon are affected by the impact of its civil war, the emergency rehabilitation plan and the 10-year plan for development and reconstruction as well as the ongoing Israeli occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. Lebanon has made such progress that it offers many examples of "Best Practices" in the field of sustainable development of human settlements. They include the reconstruction of Beirut and the return of 90,000 displaced families to their homes.
EASTON DOUGLAS, Minister of Environment and Housing of Jamaica: In small island developing States like Jamaica, the problems of human settlements is compounded by their vulnerability to natural disasters and other factors. Jamaica has developed a revised national physical development plan for the period 1978-1998. A comprehensive approach, it includes legislative and institutional reform, shelter solutions, education, training and social services. A comprehensive land use policy has also been developed. Through a participatory and consultative process, a comprehensive national land policy has been completed. In addition to Government action, partnerships have been forged with a number of groups, including the private sector.
An innovative people-based programme, Operation Pride (Programme for Resettlement and Integrated Development Enterprise) has been implemented recently by the Jamaican Government. It promotes self-help and will make land and shelter more accessible and affordable to a wide category of individuals who presently do not own land or a house.
KAMEL HADJ SASSI, Secretary of State for the National Fund for Solidarity of Tunisia: The rate of urban increase in Tunisia has expanded from 47.5 per cent in 1975 to 61 per cent in 1994. The Tunisian Government has instituted measures and instruments to facilitate urban planning and organize city development, such as the Master Plan for National Land Planning and the Master Plans for Urban Development; an experiment carried out by the Agency for Urban Rehabilitation and Renovation to improve infrastructure and install of basic facilities in underprivileged neighbourhoods. Those efforts have reduced the rate of rudimentary shelter from 25.8 per cent in 1975 to 2.7 per cent in 1994; raised the rate of household connection to electricity lines from 63.4 per cent in 1984 to 86 per cent in 1994, and increased the tap water connection rate from 72.5 per cent in 1975 to 82.3 per cent in 1994.
The Tunisian Government believes that balanced development of cities and urban regions can be achieved only if living conditions are improved in rural areas, and has therefore set up programmes intended to develop rural economy.
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ANDRE HEDIGER, representative of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities: Habitat II should review the responsibility of cities. Municipal authorities have the duty of assuming an active role in establishing a culture of peace within their borders. They must address the ethnic and religious tensions caused by massive migration to cities by setting up bodies to develop programmes to encourage tolerance and understanding. Cities lack the finance to adequately tackle social problems because resources are being wasted on arms.
SHOBHANA RANADE, President of the All India Women's Conference: Women, as a disadvantaged sector with a low economic and social status, should be empowered and gender equality promoted. Programmes of human settlements must ensure greater participation for women in decision-making at the planning, implementation and management levels. The Government of India has reserved 33 per cent of positions in elected local authorities for women. There is a need to emphasize gender-oriented settlements, improve the status of vulnerable social groups and provide efficient management systems to deliver basic services to women. They should have access to credit and lending facilities and equal rights to own land and property.
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