PRESS CONFERENCE BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

The 1996 Habitat Agenda -- adopted at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements in Istanbul -- had provided a platform for grass-roots women to push for the issues they cared about, Jan Peterson, Chair of the Secretariat of the Huairou Commission, told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press conference.

PRESS BRIEFING BY HOUSING MINISTER OF TUNISIA

The objective of shelter for all had been realized in Tunisia as of the year 2000, Slaheddine Belaid, Tunisian Minister of Equipment and Housing and Chairperson of the Thematic Committee of the twenty-fifth special session of the General Assembly on implementation of the outcome of the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), said this morning at a Headquarters press briefing.

PRESS BRIEFING ON HABITAT SPECIAL SESSION

The General Assembly’s special session had stimulated a successful international dialogue on how to further implement the Habitat Agenda adopted five years ago in Istanbul, Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY EUROPEAN UNION

A publication entitled Implementing the Habitat Agenda –- The European Union Experience was launched this morning at a Headquarters press briefing.  Presenting the report on behalf of the European Union was Sören Häggroth, Secretary of State, Ministry of Finance of Sweden, which holds the Presidency of the Union for the first half of this year.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COALITION

At a Headquarters press conference this afternoon a coalition of non-governmental organizations issued a statement “to strongly protest both the process and the outcome” of this week’s General Assembly special session.

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNICEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

"We the Children", the Secretary-General's end-of-decade review following up on the 1990 World Summit for Children, was, without a doubt, the most comprehensive study of what was happening to the world's children today, Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY URBAN-PLANNING PANEL

At a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, a diverse panel of senior urban planners emphasized the undeniable benefits of forging housing and urban development partnerships with international financial institutions and other intergovernmental organizations.  At the same time, they underscored their belief that some of the strongest and perhaps even more satisfying partnerships were forged locally, at the community level.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON ADEQUATE HOUSING

Most States had failed to implement the Habitat Agenda and were now backing away and giving up on the responsibilities that they had collectively assumed in Istanbul (Habitat 11, 1996), Miloon Kathari, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

PRESS BRIEFING ON GLOBAL PEACE GAMES 2001

A Global Peace Games 2001 for Children and Youth was formally launched at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon, with the organizers appealing for wider worldwide observance.

The event, to celebrate the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence (2001-2010), would be marked on 11 September and would feature

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT

Having returned from a 10-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Olara A. Otunnu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon that, without the protection and the development of children, there could be no future for any country.