13 September

Habitat Scroll of Honour Special Citation for the Prime Minister of Lebanon , Forum Auditorium: 10h00

During the opening session of the World Urban Forum, the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, will present Prime Minister Rafic Hariri of Lebanon with the prestigious Habitat Scroll of Honour 2004 Special Citation for his outstanding and visionary leadership in the post-conflict reconstruction of Lebanon . This work is prominently featured at the World Urban Forum exhibition on the ground floor of the convention centre.

14 September 

Launch of UN-HABITAT's flagship report -
The State of the World's Cities 2004/2005 

The State of the World's Cities 2004/2005 charts the progress and the challenges we face in this rapidly urbanising world. With contributions from some of the world's leading urban scholars, writers and experts, this report carries extensive examples, illustrations and facts that are of use to experts and non-experts alike. First published in 2001, this flagship report of UN-HABITAT now published every two years, represents a further milestone in the efforts of the United Nations to gather, promote, and disseminate information for policy makers and the public at large.

It is both a working tool and reference manual, as well as an interesting review of the way cities growing in both positive and negative ways. It is illustrated by a fascinating series of essays by leading journalists, writers and experts who explain how modern urban trends affect us in every day life. Published jointly by UN-HABITAT and Earthscan, the State of the World's Cities 2004/2005 makes for essential reading by the widest possible audience.

15 September 2004 

Launch of a joint EU-UN-HABITAT research initiative

Room 129 at 14:30 

Mr. Pierre Valette, Acting Director of the European Union's Research Directorate, and the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, will launch a publication on a new initiative by UN-HABITAT and the EU to share the results of research on urban issues. The two organisations are working together to explore new strategic areas of urban research and to create a combined database of good practices for urban sustainability.

Premier of the film Milagro de Candeal by Fernando Trueba, Spanish film director and Oscar winner. Forum Auditorium at 19h00 (By invitation only)

This film presents the urban transformation of a Brazilian favela . The director, Fernando Trueba, will present the film at this European “premier”. The story of the film is about a project initiated by Carlinhos Brown in the slums of Bahia in Brazil , to uplift and empower youth through the force of music. Mr. Carlinhos Brown and Mr. Bebo Valdes, the noted Cuban pianist, conductor and composer, will also be at the premier.

A Hip-Hop Concert in the Plaza

The Message 18h30 till late 

This concert by some of the world's leading Hip-Hop and Rap artists is dedicated to raising awareness of the Millennium Development Goals. It will be “a party with a purpose” featuring top stars and groups including MV Bill of the “City of God” from Brazil, La Etnnia from Colombia, Saian Supa Crew from France, Nukke Posse from Greenland, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji from Kenya, Madcon from Norway, Godessa from South Africa, La Mala Rodriguez from Spain, and others. The concert will also feature break dancing by some of the best B-Boys and B-Girls from Barcelona and Spain .

13-17 September

World Urban Forum Exhibition

Convention Centre, Ground Floor: from 9h00 

Visitors to the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona can also see some of the world's latest developments in urban innovation at a series of dazzling exhibitions of ideas best practices and ideas from countries around the world. The size of a football field, the exhibition area also provides delegates with essential facilities such as a business centre and a refreshments area with seating for informal meetings. It also includes a common cinema booth featuring short films by UN-HABITAT and partners. The programme of films showing each day will be published in the daily journal.

Children and art 

Children from many countries joining a youth camp being held throughout the Universal Forum of Cultures will present two unique works of art. 

Thirteen school children under 14 from Chengdu , China , will produce the world's longest painting on hand-made paper depicting the theme Our City – Our Future . The children were selected in a citywide competition and will paint together with other children participating in the Youth Camp throughout the week. They will present the painting to Barcelona Mayor Joan Clos at the closing ceremony.

12-18 September 

The Fair - an exhibition and meeting space in the Plaza 

The Fair is an exhibition inside the Forum Plaza featuring 80 best practices selected from Spain , Catalonia and the world. The exhibition is organized around the themes of the eight Millennium Development Goals. These are 1/ to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2/ achieve universal primary education, 3/ promote gender equality and empower women, 4/ reduce child mortality, 5/ improve maternal health, 6/ combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 7/ ensure environmental sustainability and 8/ to develop a global partnership for development. Some of those directly involved will be at hand to discuss these best practices.

The Best Practices City and Water Exhibition in the Plaza 

Visitors to the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona can also see some of the world's latest developments in urban innovation at an exhibition of best practices and ideas from countries around the world.

The Best Practices City and Water Exhibit, officially opened on 9 May, features over 50 ideas representing examples of proven solutions to common social, economic and environmental problems of an urbanising world. The objective of the Best Practices City is to display the innovations in a way that is stimulating and easy to understand.

Each display at the Best Practices city is portrayed by a photograph, a graphic or an object, requiring a minimal amount of explanatory text. The practices are grouped in three broad categories – solutions that each and everyone of us can initiate within our respective communities, those that require partnerships with other stakeholders, and those that point to what is possible when there is an enabling policy framework. The Best Practices team and the UFC worked together for several months to identify the best ideas with a potential for a compelling visual display. They also developed a short three-minute audio-visual presentation known as the Oracle.

The water exhibit is entitled, Water Talks – Are You Listening? is designed to raise awareness in 15 key areas related to fresh water usage. It shows where the water we use every day comes from, how we use it, and what happens to it. The graphic display portrays this in the form of 15 large transparent columns. One side of each column presents some facts and figures, while another side is inscribed with a proverb that serves to remind us how different cultures have perceived and respected fresh water. The exhibition was conceived and designed jointly by UN-HABITAT's Best Practices team, the International Secretariat for Water, the Universal Forum Cultures and the Green Cross.

Live Graffiti Exhibition in the Plaza

Throughout the summer months, children from various cities around the world at the youth camp of the Universal Forum of Cultures have been demonstrating their artistic talents by decorating a large wall dedicated to the theme, Civic Engagement, Cultural Expression and Social Inclusion . The wall will be inaugurated on 16 September immediately after the first Global Hip-Hop Summit.