FINAL PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR ‘ISTANBUL +5’ CONCLUDES IN NAIROBI; APPROVES DRAFT DECLARATION, DRAFT REPORT, ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES

FINAL PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR ‘ISTANBUL +5’ CONCLUDES IN NAIROBI;

APPROVES DRAFT DECLARATION, DRAFT REPORT, ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES

NAIROBI, 23 February (Habitat) -- The second substantive session of the Preparatory Committee for Istanbul +5 successfully completed its work today.  Its primary duty was to set the agenda for the five-year review conference known as Istanbul +5, a special session of the General Assembly that will take place in New York from 6 to 8 June.  The special session will evaluate progress made and obstacles encountered and formulate new initiatives to further the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, adopted at the 1996 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements.  The Preparatory Committee completed several key tasks, including the preparation of a draft “declaration on cities and other human settlements in the new millennium” and consideration of a draft report prepared by the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), Anna Tibaijuka, on the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda.  Where the Preparatory Committee had expected to encounter difficulties with the accreditation process for local authorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the process went very smoothly.

Negotiations on the text of the draft declaration proceeded well, although delegates found it necessary to work late into the night more than once, and the drafting committee was split into two groups in order to expedite the process.  The text adopted by the Committee calls upon representatives of governments to renew and reconfirm their commitments to the Habitat Agenda, with its twin goals of “adequate shelter for all” and “sustainable human settlements development”.  The text that was adopted by the plenary today will be taken up by the special session of the General Assembly in June. 

The draft report on the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda was based on national reports from over 80 countries which were consolidated and presented at five regional preparatory meetings.  There are many emerging themes in this report.  For example, the evidence is clear that globalization has lead to an increase in urban poverty and has exacerbated the problems of human settlements in towns and villages.  In many regions, recent progress has been severely hampered by the increase in natural and human made disasters, particularly regional wars and conflicts.  In terms of emerging priorities, the report points out that there is a weakening of international commitment in the field of human settlements development.  Among its many conclusions, the report points out that there is an urgent need for greater decentralization and strengthening of local authorities and calls for an increased commitment of resources to help overcome the problems of the urban poor.

In the preparatory process leading up to Istanbul +5, the General Assembly passed a resolution restructuring the discussions among the various Habitat Agenda partners, including local authorities and NGOs.  It was decided to ask these partners to participate in a new entity -- a thematic committee, which is to meet five times during the special session.  Its designated purpose is to “tell the important story” of the development of human settlements through presentations of case studies and dialogues.  It is hoped that, by the end of the session, participants will have acquired practical knowledge and formed a basis from which they can network and initiate projects.

A problem arose early in the week concerning the rules under which the Preparatory Committee was to function, particularly concerning the participation of local authorities and non-governmental organizations.  Special sessions of the General Assembly function under different rules than may have held at various world conferences.  When the drafting committee decided to bar non-governmental organizations and representatives of local authorities from its sessions, non-governmental organization representatives protested strongly.  In the interests of maintaining a positive atmosphere conducive to a good working relationship with its “valued partners”, a compromise arrangement was agreed upon whereby the non-governmental organization representatives were allowed to sit in all the sessions of the drafting committee as observers; Habitat Agenda partners were also allowed to make their presentations at “public sessions”, as determined by the committee. 

However, right up to the last minute some delegations appeared to be determined to limit the participation of local authorities, non-governmental organizations and other Habitat Agenda partners at the General Assembly special session.  During the last plenary session, on Friday night, the issue of partner statements in plenary at the special session was submitted to a vote.  By 45 votes in favour to 3 against, with 7 abstentions, the Committee decided that two speaking slots would be reserved for Habitat Agenda partners, including United Nations entities, at each plenary session.  This vote demonstrated that most Member States still support the spirit of Istanbul.

At a press conference on the afternoon of the final day,

Mrs. Tibaijuka, Germán García Durán, Chair of the Preparatory Committee, and representatives of governments, local authorities and non-governmental organizations all expressed solidarity with the goals of the Habitat Agenda.  They also expressed appreciation for the good work of the various delegations to prepare for the special session of the General Assembly.  At the press conference, Mrs. Tibaijuka said, “Despite the intensive negotiations and positioning over the week, as we come to the end, there is a clear demonstration of convergence.  We are happy we have been able to complete the process with all parties on board.  I am pleased that the spirit of Istanbul is alive and well”.

For further information, please contact:  Sharad Shankardass, Spokesperson, Media & Press Relations Unit, UNCHS (Habitat), Tel: 623153; 623151; Fax: 624060; e-mail: habitat.press@unchs.org, Web site:www.unchs.org

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