TWELVE AWARDS PRESENTED FOR `BEST PRACTICES' BY SECRETARY-GENERAL

Press Release
HAB/123

TWELVE AWARDS PRESENTED FOR `BEST PRACTICES' BY SECRETARY-GENERAL

ISTANBUL, 4 June, (UN Information Services) -- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali this afternoon presented awards for 11 of the 12 "Best Practices" which represent solutions to pressing social, economic and environmental problems at an award ceremony of the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II). The twelfth was presented by the First Lady of Brazil, Ruth Cardoso, who gave an award to the representative of the Popular Council of Rondon, for "Integration Council in the Favelas Rehabilitation Process". The awards were sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Dubai Municipality.

The Secretary-General said the award winners represent "the spirit of invention, innovation, courage and commitment and demonstrate that positive change and sustainable human settlement development are indeed possible". They also represent a different approach to defining problems and finding solutions in true partnership between civil society, public and private enterprise.

The Tokyo Awards for Excellence in Improving the Living Environment were presented to the representatives of the following:

-- Popular Council of Rondon, Forteleza, Brazil, for "Integration Council in the Favelas Rehabilitation Process";

-- Metropolitan Toronto, Canada, for "Metro Toronto's Changing Communities: Innovative Responses";

-- Anhui Provincial Construction Department in China, for "Post Calamity Reconstruction of Anhui Province's Rural Areas";

-- Local Initiative Programme of Lublin, Poland, for "Local Initiative Programme: Community Planning Process and City/ Neighbourhood Partnership in Lublin, Poland";

-- "Community Information Resource Centre" of Alexandria, South Africa";

-- City of Chattanooga, United States, for the "City of Chattanooga".

The Dubai Awards were presented to the following:

-- NGO Association for Community Assistance in Buenos Aires, for "Sites and Services for Low-Income Families";

-- Neighbourhood Committees in Adjame, Abidjan, for "Successful Institutionalisation of Community-Based Development";

-- Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) Bank of India for "A Women's Self-Help Organisation for Poverty Alleviation in India";

-- Ministry of Housing in Morocco and the City of Agadir, for "Shelter Upgrading";

-- City of Tilburg, Netherlands, for "City Management in Tilburg"; and

-- Banana Kelley Association, New York, for "Dont't Move, Improve".

The "Best Practices" Initiative was seen as a capacity-building exercise. They are projects and programmes developed at the community level. The basic criteria for the nominations included positive and tangible impact on improving the living environment of people; and partnerships among at least two key actors and sustainable impact. The Initiative was officially launched at the first substantive session of the Habitat II Preparatory Committee in Geneva in April 1994.

The Secretary-General of the Conference, Wally N'Dow said the lessons gained from the "Best Practices" Initiative must be applied to real life in order to improve the living environment. The Initiative will continue in the form of a programme that will rely on the global network of capacity-building entities, the financial institutions, United Nations agencies and the media.

At the start of the ceremony, a message was read from Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. Statements were also made by the Governor of the Municipality of Tokyo, Yukio Aoshima, and the Director-General of the Dubai Municipality, Qassim Sultan.

During an earlier general exchange of views on the state of human settlements, several speakers highlighted the need to develop broad partnerships to tackle the growing problems of urban centres.

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Delegates said that the partnerships should include State and non-State actors -- local authorities, the private sector, parliamentarians and non- governmental, community-based and international organizations.

Statements during the exchange of views were made by the Deputy Minister for Planning and Construction of Poland; the Minister of Urbanism, Civil Engineering and Environment of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing of Namibia; and the Minister for Local Administration of Egypt. The representatives of Cuba and Slovenia also spoke.

The Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund made a statement.

The representatives of Greece and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia spoke in exercise of right of reply

General Exchange of Views

MARIO CABELLO MARANTE, President of the Instituto Nacional de la Vivienda of Cuba: Cuba has been implementing a housing strategy with equity which has allowed it to sustain an annual growth of above 4 per cent. It has built more than 1.3 million houses over the last 35 years, increasing housing stock by 80 per cent. More than 85 per cent of families in Cuba own their homes.

Among the steps taken to ensure easier availability of housing is the inclusion of local authorities in decision-making on the sustainable development of human settlements. The provision of housing involves all sections of the society. Cuba will curb the deterioration of the situation and improve the housing balance by adding 400,000 more houses between 1996 and the year 2000. The policy model Cuba has adopted has made it possible for the country to implement its programmes despite the economic obstacles placed in its path.

ALES SAREC (Slovenia): The administration and proper functioning of cities and settlements connected in a unitary and cooperative urban network is a major condition for the successful development of Slovenia. As an independent country, integrated into Europe, it is very important for Slovenia to develop a settlement system in an economically efficient manner as well as in a socially, spatially and ecologically balanced way. Slovenia is preparing a policy on settlement development within the framework of the strategy for spatial development. The strategy includes the preparation of new laws and regulations on space management, housing properties and construction. Sustainable development is being given priority at the regional and local levels. Slovenia's 1991 Constitution stipulates that the Government shall

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create opportunites for citizens to obtain suitable shelter. State ownership of housing has been abolished.

HANS J. BODEWIG (El Salvador): The implementation of the Conference goals have been delayed due by the conflict in El Salvador. The Government is building houses in a manner that would create a balanced system of competitive towns. Efforts will be made to ensure the efficient use of land. Water tables and sources have been mapped out to ensure steady supply. New self- governing housing areas will be created. The role of the Government as facilitator is to modernize and decentralize itself in order to secure a more democratic arrangement in the use of the country's housing resources.

ANDRE URBAN, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Physical Planning and Construction of Poland: The Habitat II preparatory process has become an integral part of Poland's socio-political and economic transformation, contributing to the recognition of the importance of human settlements and to improvements of local economies. Poland's National Plan of Action, developed jointly by the Government, local self-government associations and non- governmental organizations, focuses on a number of issues. They include the improvement of settlements management and the establishment of clear and stable rules on financing the development of settlements from public resources. The Plan also focuses on enhancing the public/private partnership in building houses, on developing civic and public participation in managing dwellings and on devising local strategies for developing human settlements. Poland will advocate, at the Economic Commission for Europe, the establishment of an information and training centre to help implement plans of action in the countries in transition.

NAFIS SADIK, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): The UNFPA attaches great importance to Habitat II because population and human settlement issues are closely interlinked. Success in dealing with them will affect the course of economic and social development. Urban dwellers are increasing at twice the rate of overall population growth. Today's developing countries will account for 93 per cent of the 2 billion increase in global urban population between now and the year 2020. The unusually high number of young people in urban populations in the developing world increases the pressure on housing and social services.

The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agreed on the need to stabilize world population in the shortest possible time. The empowerment of women and the improvement of their status are an important contribution to sustainable development in both urban and rural areas.

YORGO SHUNDOVSKI, Minister for Urbanization, Civil Engineering and Environment of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: In new legislation on spatial and urban planning in the Republic of Macedonia, the future

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activities in housing would be directed to improving urban suburbs. The involvement of governmental, non-governmental organizations and local organs is essential. The country's physical plan is being prepared to improve the quality of life. It will govern the sustainable use of natural resources, urban models with optimum functioning of technical and social infrastructures and maximal conservation of cultivated land.

Activities proposed under the Strategy of the National Action Plan require significant financial resources that cannot be acquired from domestic sources. Priority areas for financial assistance include transportation and energy infrastructure, water supply and the environment. International cooperation could help train professionals in urban economy, management and electronics.

LIBERTINA AMATHILA, Minister of Regional, Local Government and Housing of Namibia: Since its independence in 1990, Namibia has provided shelter to more than 4,000 low-income families. In 1991, it adopted the National Housing Policy that encouraged partnership between the public, private and community sectors in housing development. With the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), it developed a National Shelter Policy based on the participation of stakeholders -- the communities, the private sector, financial institutions, local authorities and individuals -- in the housing process. Government thus became a facilitator of housing, not a direct provider.

Habitat II should act on the provision of shelter and the growing needs of the developing countries, especially those in Africa, must be met with new and additional financial resources.

MAHMOUD SHERIF, Minister for Local Adnministration of Egypt: The Egyptian Government is pursing a scientific approach to urbanization problems in order to ensure continuity in social and economic development. It is making infrastructural development the starting point for implementing a strategy that would foster rapid economic development, incorporating region up to the year 2000. Only 4 per cent of the territory of Eygpt is inhabitated by 90 percent of the population.

The Government's strategy is based on a number of programmes for the development of regions outside the Nile Valley, as points of attraction for new settlements. Sixteen new towns have been established under the strategy. A second programme is focusing on resettling people on the periphery of the cities. Those two parallel strategies will contribute to restricting the uncontrolled spread of urban areas. The programmes are participatory and include the local governments and populations. Women account for a large percentage of participation. A rural development programme is also being established, based on a participatory approach.

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Right of Reply

The representative of Greece: The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia referred to his country as the Republic of Macedonia. Security Council resolution 817 (1993) states precisely that the state be referred to provisionally in the United Nations as The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, pending settlement of the difference over the name of the State. For that reason that name appears on the name plate and on the speakers list. On the other hand, it is universally accepted that no country can invoke internal constitutional arrangements to evade its responsibilities.

The representative of the former Yugosalv Republic of Macedonia: The name of each state is an exclusive right and an internal affair. That right is incorporated into international law. The constitutional name of the country is the Republic of Macedonia. The country's application to the United Nations was submitted as the Republic of Macedonia. The General Assembly resolution admitting the country to the United Nations does not contain any sanctions for the use of the name of the Republic of Macedonia.

The representative of Greece:: The Council resolution states that the State should be named "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

Best Practices Award Ceremony

Meeting President, JOHN GUMMER, Secretary of State for the Environment of the United Kingdom: The Prince of Wales has sent a message to the Conference, calling for as many people as possible to be involved in decision- making processes in the provision of settlements.

Statement by the Secretary-General

Secretary-General BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI: More than 800 entries have been received and 600 submitted on time for the awards which are sponsored by the cities of Tokyo and Dubai. The final selection of the 12 winners from a short list of 42 was a difficult process that does not detract from the value and quality of the others. All 12 share one common feature: change. Change in the way problems are defined and solved in true partnership between civil society, public and private enterprise. Change in attitudes, behaviour, governance and management systems.

The 12 best practices and the 88 others which have made the Global 100 Best Practice List prove the link between the human settlement process and human development. Some of the award-winning best practices deal with technology, information, shelter, infrastructure and equality of access to land and credit.

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YUKIO AOSHIMA, Governor of the Municipality of Tokyo: The practices could provide models for the search for solutions to problems of the environment. The awards should encourage the participation of others in similar projects in the future.

QASSIM SULTAN, Director-General of the Dubai Municipality: The awards should galvanize other non-governmental organizations, local governments and other actors to seek new ways to tackle the problems of urban and rural development. The six winners of the Dubai Award were selected from 600 entries. The next awards will be presented on World Habitat Day, on 4 October 1998.

The Secretary-General of Habitat II, WALLY N'DOW: The information garnered from the "Best Practices" Initiative must be applied to real life in order to improve the living environment. The Initiative will continue in the form of a programme that will rely on the global network of capacity-building entities, the financial institutions, United Nations agencies and the media. Some countries have launched their own "Best Practices" awards and more will do so in a few months.

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