RELATIONSHIP OF RURAL NEED TO URBAN PROBLEMS MUST BE ADDRESSED SAY `CITY SUMMIT' PARTICIPANTS ON CONFERENCE THIRD DAY
Press Release
HAB/125
RELATIONSHIP OF RURAL NEED TO URBAN PROBLEMS MUST BE ADDRESSED SAY `CITY SUMMIT' PARTICIPANTS ON CONFERENCE THIRD DAY
19960605 (Received from a UN Information Officer)ISTANBUL, 5 June -- The relationship between the needs of rural dwellers and the problems of urban centres should be given adequate attention, the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) was told this afternoon, as it continued its general exchange of views on the state of human settlements.
Several speakers pointed out, for instance, that the actions of the rural poor -- as migrants, suppliers and consumers -- will determine the fate of cities in developing countries. The problem of urban growth has resulted in rural-urban disparities in services, infrastructure and employment. The rural environment bears the brunt of the worst problems of poverty, disease, illiteracy and deprivation.
Speaking during this afternoon's general exchange of views were the Minister for Housing and Urban Development of Swaziland; Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal of Ireland; Minister for Construction, Housing and Land Use Planning of Kazakstan; Minister for Environment, Science and Technology of Ghana; Minister for Housing of Morocco; Secretary of State of the Ministry for Public Works and Territorial Planning of Romania; Minister for Construction and Building of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Vice-Minister, Ministry for Infrastructure Development of Mongolia and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Public Works and Government Services of Canada also made statements.
Also addressing the meeting were the representatives of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Latvia.
The Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe also spoke.
Also taking part in the general exchange of views were the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); a representative
of the World Food Programme (WFP); and the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The representatives of the following non-governmental organizations made statements: the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres; the Caucus of Older Persons; and the Agence de Recherches et d'Information et de Formation pour les Femmes.
General Exchange of Views
JOHN HARVARD, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services of Canada: The Conference must act to ensure an adequate supply of appropriate and affordable housing through the creation of new dwellings and the maintenance of existing ones. Governments should assist the marketplace in the building of houses. The Conference should reaffirm the right to adequate housing. All levels of government, working with partnerships, should provide various forms of credit and financing mechanisms to households. There are solutions for cities that do not require new and additional resources: listen to the people, ensure that the exercise of power reflects the democratic will, make city administrations accountable, devolve decision-making and eliminate corruption.
The "Habitat Agenda" should address the needs of all sectors of society, particularly the disadvantaged people. A gender perspective should be reflected throughout the document. It should seek to involve all levels of government as well as non-governmental and community-based organizations, indigenous people, professional associations and civil society.
PASCAL GAYAMA, Under-Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU): The right to housing should be seen as an integral part of human rights. Housing should be considered one of the essential factors of production and as assets. The OAU has adopted a number of resolutions that will reflect the joint African positions on the issues before the Conference. Africa's views are similar to those of the "Group of 77" developing countries and the States of the Non-Aligned Movement. The eradication of poverty should be one of the major objectives of the global plan of action. Agencies of international cooperation should have adequate resources to help implement programmes meant to improve settlements. Science and technology should be placed at the service of mankind so as to help in the search for solutions for the problems of settlements.
JOHN PHILLIP CARMICHAEL, Minister of Housing and Urban Development of Swaziland: The Conference must be committed to eradicating injustice and the suffering caused by poverty and to offering new hope to the deprived and anguished millions of the world. The end of the cold war presents an excellent opportunity for the world to focus and concentrate its resources on
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the alleviation of poverty which is the key to the provision of shelter and sustainable human settlement development.
Swaziland is experiencing a rapid population growth, at the rate of 3.4 per cent per annum, which is putting severe strains on the economy, depleting limited resources and lowering the quality of services. The high rate of urbanization, at 5.2 per cent, poses many challenges. Limited resources and rapid urbanization contribute to the urban sprawl and to squatter settlements. Those problems must be effectively dealt with by an aggressive decentralization programme to direct development to Swaziland's rural areas.
JAN KARA (Czech Republic): Since 1990 and following the split of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic has been undergoing dramatic and substantial changes in all spheres of life. It is now developing a modern democratic state with a market economy. Some of the problems of transition have been the provision of housing, urban development and environmental damage. In the process of privatization the government has not maintained its role as the dominant supplier of shelter. The result has been a considerable drop in housing construction over the last few years. The whole system of territorial planning had to undergo a substantial change to more enabling and participatory approaches.
The promotion of democracy in the Czech Republic has meant decentralization and the revival of local initiatives and interests. Concerns of local communities, non-governmental organizations and other groups now form a legitimate context for any decision-making, including human settlements issues. As part of its major "reform package" the Czech authorities have launched a number of measures which include programmes for facilitating the transition in the housing and city planning sector. They are being implemented with international cooperation assistance and experience-sharing.
LIZ MCMANUS, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal of Ireland: The Irish Government's housing policies try to ensure that all households will have affordable and decent dwellings in good environments. The strategy for achieving this is twofold: it first aims to make as many people as possible able to afford their own houses, and then it provides those not able to do so with access to "social housing" or income support towards renting private homes. The public and the private sectors as well as voluntary and non-profit sectors play key roles in implementing the strategy. Voluntary and non-profit organizations account for one-quarter of the entire social housing output.
Tenants should be involved in managing their homes. The needs of women must also be considered and the mechanisms governing private and social housing sectors should involve them and respond to their needs.
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FAWZI H. AL-SULTAN, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): Making the local environment habitable requires more than housing. Safe drinking water, sanitation and health are also necessary. The IFAD has undertaken projects to provide those elements in various countries. In its 19 years of existence, it has supported more than 430 projects, costing about $15 billion and helping 180 million rural poor, who would have had to migrate to the cities. In considering the Habitat Agenda the Conference should give due attention to the needs of the rural areas and dwellers. The actions of the rural poor, as migrants, supplier and consumers, will determine the fate of Third World urban centres.
A. A. KULIBAEV, Minister for Construction , Housing and Land use Planning of Kazakstan: For the past four years Kazakstan has been actively involved in the Habitat II preparatory process. The country faces difficulties in attempting to ensure stable human settlement development. The increasing level of the Caspian sea has affected over 650,000 hectares of land. Large areas of oil deposits and extensive areas of infrastructure have been flooded. On the other hand, the drying out of the Aral Sea will increase migration in that area. It will have an impact on housing.
The Kazakh Parliament is now considering a new housing code. The provision of housing remains one of the most important tasks in the context of economic development. Other priorities include creating a properly functioning real estate market, thus eliminating the imbalance in small and large cities. The international community should assist Kazakstan by providing aid and foreign investment and in the preparation of national and regional development programmes.
CHRISTINA AMOAKO-NUAMAH, Minister for Environment, Science and technology of Ghana: Approximately 189 of Ghana's 47,800 human settlements are considered urban. The ratio of urban to rural population is 33 percent to 67 percent. The high scale of development of the capital, Accra-Tema, inhibits the efficient utilization of human and physical resources. In Ghana, the basic human settlement problem is the rate of urban growth. The situation has resulted in rural-urban disparities in the distribution of services and infrastructure and in employment opportunities. The rural environment bears the brunt of the worst problems of poverty, disease, illiteracy and deprivation.
Ameliorative measures have been taken to redress the imbalances and include economic recovery and structural adjustment programmes and decentralization of political and administrative planning and financial systems. The Ghanaian Government is convinced of the need to use rural development, particularly the strengthening of medium-sized towns, as a strategy for overall sustainable development.
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HAMADI BEN SLIMANE, Director, Management and Programming Division of the World Food Programme (WFP): The number of hungry poor in urban areas will rise above 500 million people by the end of the century, compared with 330 million in 1988. Solutions to urban hunger problems should be sought in both the rural and urban sectors. The urban poor need resources to grant them access to the food available in the markets. Direct food transfers to the poor can dampen domestic food production incentives. Policies should aim to increase the income of the urban poor. A dynamic agricultural sector will help solve the problem of urban hunger by lowering prices, saving foreign exchange, increasing employment and reducing rural-to-urban migration. The urban hunger programme should be addressed within the market framework and the WFP does not use food aid where it could disrupt market. But when cities become hostages to displaced people and refugees fleeing wars and civil strife, food aid is needed to save lives. The WFP provided food aid in cities in Somalia, Sudan, Angola, Liberia and Bosnia.
T.S. DAMIRAN, Vice-Minister for Infrastructure of Mongolia: International cooperation is necessary for implementing the Habitat Agenda of promoting human development through the improvement of the living conditions in cities, towns and villages. The creation of a conducive global economic environment by providing technical assistance, transferring technology and exchanging information is crucial to international cooperation on human settlements. Structurally weak economies, particularly developing countries in disadvantaged geographical positions, need greater international help to implement the outcome of Habitat II. Adequate financial resources should be provided by developed countries, multilateral financial and development institutions, to address human settlement problems and to implement the commitments of the Global Plan of Action.
G.O.P. OBASI Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): The focus of WMO is on the problems of human settlements as they relate to the environment. Weak urban planning and poor architecture have resulted in the inefficient use of energy. Urban areas are major sources of pollution which are detrimental to human health. They also contribute to acid rain which has harmful effects on agriculture. Urban areas also introduce greenhouse gases to the atmosphere which adversely affect the climate. Sea- level rises would threaten cities. Water remains the lifeblood of cities but it is a limited global resource. All of these concerns are being addressed by WMO.
The solution of some of the environmental problems is fundamental to mitigating natural disasters. It is possible to lessen the problems faced by urban areas. The development partners should address collectively the challenges arising from urbanization. Governments must take bolder steps which, even if unpopular, would be in the interest of future generations.
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LASZLO LACHO (Hungary): Integrated settlement planning policies should be priorities of the Conference. In Hungary, government, non-governmental organizations and the academic community contributed to the national report for the conference. The emerging democratic political system in the country has contributed to a long-term perspective on human settlements. Much has been done to create conditions for stable development, including the management of settlements by local governments which has been reinforced by national legislation. Hungary's national report provides information on settlements in the Great Hungarian Plain and the youth forum on human settlements.
The "commitments" in the Habitat II Agenda should refer to the role of science and technology in human settlements development. The global plan of action must be implemented by Governments but the Centre for Human Settlements has to play a leading role in the follow-up to the Conference.
SAID EL FASSI, Minister for Housing of Morocco: Morocco has centuries- old cities that used to be surrounded by green belts. Cities should be built on a human scale and linked to the rural areas. While urbanization helps in the retention of culture, its attendant problems must be tackled. A productive, adequate and tax-paying private sector may not actually exist in many developing countries, or it may exist only in a weakened form. Therefore, international cooperation should help create viable private sectors that will help the developing countries, particularly in relation to housing issues.
Morocco is carrying out construction and rehabilitation in some of its urban centres. The private sector should be helped to acquire qualified professionals who would handle the technical aspects of the provision of settlements. The population should be helped to gain access to houses.
CRISAN VICTOR POPESCU, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Public Works of Romania: The problem of housing should be approached in a holistic manner. That is why Romania established a centre on housing, with the cooperation of other sectors of society. There should be a balanced approach to the provision of settlements, in order to prevent the disintegration or disappearance of medium-size towns. The provision of responsible management of water and the protection of certain areas will be included in the national plan.
Romania has moved from a centralized to a market economy and its economic system is being adapted accordingly. The development of human settlements can be undertaken only with the cooperation of various partners. Regional centres of excellence and focal points might facilitate the exchange of human settlement. The work of the United Nations bodies in implementing the commitments of the Conference cannot be overemphasized.
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VIJA GEME (Latvia): There are about 53 million square metres of dwellings in Latvia, 20.9 square metres per capita and 351 dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants. Latvia is preparing its national housing policy to improve the quality of the economic, social and cultural aspects of housing. Its main directions include the strengthening of laws dealing with land use, ownership, housing and planning issues and the improvement of the physical environment and living conditions in settlements. The national policy will also seek to evolve social safety nets for the weakest and promote long-term credits for housing construction or renovation by forming mortgage systems with the cooperation of international financing institutions.
ALEXANDRE MOISSEEV, Minister for Construction and Building of the Kyrgyz Republic: The Kyrgyz Republic is undergoing a transitional period and has experienced economic decline. Private sector housing stock is increasing but the Government's stock has declined significantly. At the same time, land for housing is limited. More than 100,000 people are on a waiting list for housing while the volume of construction is decreasing every year. The existing socialist housing legislation has to be reformed to allow private ownership.
A new housing code and housing policy are being prepared by the Kyrgyz Government. Reform should include privatizing housing and providing the means for financing housing. Other Government priorities include increasing rental housing; making free housing available to vulnerable groups; subsidised housing; economic incentives to stimulate building; the provision of amenities and proper infrastructural services; and decentralizing control over housing.
ALEXANDER TCHERNOFF, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe: Implementation of plans of action calls for political leadership. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities covers 39 countries and takes responsibility for human settlements in its various towns and regions. It has proposed that its concerns be included as part of the Habitat Agenda. The Conference is focused too much on the large urban centres to the neglect of small towns and villages. Local authorities have the answers to human settlement problems. Solutions would not be found in this Conference. All local authorities speak the same language but are faced with the problem of lack of financial resources.
There is no need for a world conference to know the problems of human settlements. The creation and maintenance of democratic local governments must be a priority and they should be given responsibility for human settlement development. The emphasis must be on partnership. Conference participants should "think globally and act globally and do it now before the century is over."
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CAROL LUBIN, International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres: The public sector should ensure the provision of low-cost housing and establish appropriate building standards on the basis of local input. The draft Agenda places too much emphasis on the private sector as the major construction enterprise. Habitat II should propose model standards designed to help low-income and vulnerable groups. The Federation of Settlements is concerned about the reliance on the private sector to replace the public sector in determining policies and procedures for implementing the Agenda. Public regulations and government initiatives are necessary to protect the rights of people in the housing area. International bodies and governments should make greater use of non-governmental organizations skills in monitoring the implementation of programmes.
PETER R. WALKER, the Caucus on Older Persons: The number of people over 60 will rise from 200 million in 1950 to exceed 1.2 billion in the year 2025, changing from 8 per cent to 14 per cent of the world's population. Older people have the knowledge, skills, experience and self-reliance to contribute to their societies. However, they must have access to adequate resources to meet their basic needs. These include full and continued participation in society, access to transportation and adequate shelter, as well as to health services and income-producing activities. Conferees should initiate international, national and local actions to enhance the opportunities for the independence, fulfilment and dignity of older persons.
FATIMA ALAOUI, President of Agence de Recherces et d'Information pour les Femmes: Free trade, characterized by unfair competition, is one of the causes of the concentration of women in the South into urban ghettos. Towns, with their prestigious histories, have fallen prey to speculators and not into the control of urban planners who have designed spectacular cities. As a result women, whose views are not sought, have to put up with some of the uncomfortable cities that are built. Women and some minorities share space with large villas that consume disproportionate amounts of water and other resources. Millions of men continue to live in a manner that is determined by a few architects and speculators. Many men and women are unable to enjoy the view from their coastal homes because vast tracts of their shorelines have been turned over to tourists who, among other things, waste enormous volumes of water. The poorest of the poor -- the women in the South -- lack access to decision-making on the use of the space they live in. They should have the same rights as men in the efforts to change and improve dwelling.
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