WORLD HABITAT DAY TO BE OBSERVED AT HEADQU"RTERS ON MONDAY, 4 OCTOBER

Press Release

WORLD HABITAT DAY TO BE OBSERVED AT HEADQUAERTERS ON MONDAY, 4 OCTOBER

Highlighting the theme “Cities for All”, a panel discussion to mark World Habitat Day will be held in the Dag Hammarskjöld auditorium from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, 4 October.

This year’s programme is dedicated to all urban residents who are excluded from enjoying the benefits of urban life. Because of their physical, social or economic conditions, many cannot participate in urban activities; others are not legally or politically recognized as citizens of the cities in which they live.

According to United Nations estimates, over half the urban population in most developing countries live in informal settlements which are neither recognized nor serviced by city authorities. “The urban poor are the most excluded group in cities”, says Dr. Klaus Topfer, the Acting Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). “They live in constant fear of eviction and most do not have access to formal finance and loan schemes which could enable them to improve their living conditions.”

Similar events and other programmes are being organized by governments, local authorities and the civil society around the world, with the main global observance of World Habitat Day scheduled in the city of Damian, People’s Republic of China.

Details of the programme are on reverse. For additional information, contact Bill Hass, Department of Public Information, at (212) 963-0353, or UNCHS (Habitat), New York Office at (212) 963-4200.

- 2 - Note No. 5578 29 September 1999

PROGRAMME

3.00 Welcoming Remarks. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements

3.05 United Nations Secretary-General’s World Habitat Day Statement

3.10 World Habitat Day Statement of Dr. K. Töpfer, Ag. Executive Director, UNCHS; Executive Director, UNEP; Director-General, UNON.

3.15 Panel of presentations on Cities for All Ms. Barbara Pyle, CNN Environmental Editor, Vice-President Corporate Environmental Policy (Moderator) Mr. Sylvan Barnett, Rotary International (Representing Elderly) Ms. Mary Brosnahan, Executive Director, Coalition for the Homeless – NYC (Representing Poor and Homeless) Mr. René Frank, Honorary President, FIABCI, President of NGO Committee for Human Settlement, Global Housing Foundation (Representing Private Sector) Ms. Tonya Gonella Frichner, President, American Indian Law Alliance (Representing Indigenous People Minorities) Dr. Eamon Kelly, Chairman of the National Science Board, Professor of the Payson Center, International Technology Transfer, and President Emeritus, Tulane University (Representing Youth) Ms. Sandy Schilen, Global Facilitator, Groots International (Representing Women)

4.00 – 6.00 Panel discussion on Cities for All Prof. Urs Gauchat, Dean, School of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology (Moderator) Prof. Jo Ivey Boufford, M.D., Dean, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service H.E. Mr. Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the United Nations Ms. Carla Koppell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Ms. Barbara Pyle, CNN Environmental Editor, Vice-President Corporate Environmental Policy Mr. Anthony Ramírez, Reporter, The New York Times H.E. Mr. Volkan Vural, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations Mr. Derish M. Wolff, President, Louis Berger International, Inc.

6.00 Reception on the Dubai International Award for Human Settlements Best Practices for the Year 2000, at the Turkish Center, 821 UN Plaza, New York

* *** *