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Africa | Country | Event | Benin | In Benin, three major World Habitat Day have been planned. They start with a news conference Friday 5 October, followed by a morning parade on Sautrday and a special debate in the afternoon on rising crime rates. | Burkina Faso | In Burkina Faso the Ministry for Habitat and Urban Development is planning a week of activities to mark the 2007 edition of WHD. Of the numerous activities planned to take place from 1 to 7 October, two are highlighted. On one hand an International Symposium on the National Policy on Habitat and Urban Development will be held at Ouagadougou and on the other the first National World Habitat Day Award that will be handed to the city most successful in providing sanitation, security of tenure and general quality of life improvement to its inhabitants. | | World Habitat Day celebrations in Ethiopia involve eight days of activities starting on 26 September to 3 October and will feature an exhibition, a programme to be aired twice on national radio, TV advert blitz as well as the first ever Ethiopian City Award Program in recognition of best performing cities in the country which will be launched early September. | Cameroon | A coalition of Cameroonian NGOs and CBOs working in the field of human Settlements (CONGEH) will organize various activities in Yaounde to mark this year’s World Habitat Day. On September 27, 2007, they have planned a workshop which is expected to offer reflections on the topic of habitat and safety. On the World Habitat Day proper, CONGEH will distribute posters and leaflets in order to inform people on safety related to the habitat and the tools installed by the CONGEH to improve the living conditions. | | A Yaounde based NGO Common Minds for Habitation Securities “COMIHAS” is planning a three day event to mark this year’s WHD to run between September 29 to October 1. According to the programme the celebrations will be marked with a presentation of paper on theme: “Public sanitation: our health, our security”. The following day will see a football match pitting the Bastos Youths against the Nsimeyong Youths followed by a visit to some man-made disaster sites at Nkolbisson and Oyomabang. The main day will be marked by a march from the Ministry of Urban Development to the ceremonial grounds where there will be a presentation of a paper on this year’s WHD theme and finally a question and answer session followed by the speeches from the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. | Democratic Republic of Congo
| The Kinshasa based Association Pour les Biens Êtres Communautaire (ADEBECO) will mark this year’s WHD in the capital as well as in Goma town. The event will be marked by tree planting in Matadi Kibala, Mandela and Livulu areas of the capital as well as in the Quartier Virunga in Goma which was affected by the Volcanic eruption. Another highlight of the event will be clean up of Kinshasa in Commune de Ngaba and Quatier Makala, the poor areas with a big number of youth and in Goma the festivities will be in Quartier Birere, Mabanga and Katindo droite. | In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo town of Goma, the Organisation de jeunes pour la promotion des initiatives communautaires, plans a childrens' art competition to depict a safe city, and a litter collection campaign to show young people the importance of keeping their cities clean. | Eritrea | In Asmara, the World Habitat Day will be marked by a public awareness campaign using banners hoisted across the main streets of the capital, posters and distribution of press releases and UN Habitat publications. | Ethiopia | World Habitat Day celebrations in Ethiopia involve eight days of activities starting on 26 September to 3 October and will feature an exhibition, a programme to be aired twice on national radio, TV advert blitz as well as the first ever Ethiopian City Award Program in recognition of best performing cities in the country which will be launched early September. | Ghana | The Abuja Chapter of Nigerian Environmental Society in partnership with Abuja Environmental Protection Board other stakeholders, is planning a symposium on Thursday, 4 October to commemorate World Habitat Day.The aim of the symposium is to enlighten the public and create a forum to discuss issues of safety of our cities and Abuja in particular. It will address environmental safety, community safety and road safety issues. Exhibitors of housing schemes and safety gadgets will also participate in the program. | | Activities lined up to mark World Habitat Day in Ghana include: feature articles in the dailies, TV discussion on the this year’s theme ‘A safe city is a just city’, essay competition for school children on this years’ theme, football match between slum residents, a workshop and radio discussions. Slum Dwellers in Ashaiman will also raise awareness by organizing a walk through the community. | Kenya | The Ebony Initiative Kenya is organizing a youth concert on Saturday, 29th September as a pre-World Habitat Day celebration at the Makongeni Sports Grounds in the capital city, Nairobi. The concert is aimed at bringing together young people and the community at large to highlight and explore solutions to habitat related issues affecting them. A raffle will also be held in which children and other participants will answer questions on World Habitat Day related issues. | UN-HABITAT, the Ministry of Housing as well as Thika Municipal Council have joined hands in organizing the national celebrations of this year’s World Habitat Day in Kenya. Some of the activities in the pipeline for the event to be commemorated in Thika town, some 40 kilometers North East of Nairobi include a football tournament for both boys and girls, a bicycle race, a music road show and a radio and TV show promoting awareness on urban safety. Also planned are free medical camp incorporating HIV testing and counseling and tree planting. On the actual day of the event, the programme kicks off with two processions and a series of activities including skits, choral verses, comedy shows, traditional dances, choirs, exhibitions, self defence drills and speeches from UN Secretary General, UN Habitat's Executive Director, Kenyan Government, youth leaders, administrators, security agents and local leaders. Others joining hands in this event are the Kilimanjaro Initiative, Slum Upgrading Programme, Tegla Lorupe Peace Foundation, Shelter Forum and the Paul Tergat Foundation." | The Kariobangi South Welfare and Slums Housing Cooperative Society (KASWESHA) in Nairobi is celebrating this year’s World Habitat Day using a community awareness campaign dubbed Stand-up and Speak-out. Events planned for the double event targeted to draw 20,000 people, include football matches and a free medical camp for the area residents. | The national WHD celebrations in Kenya will take place in Thika, a municipality some 45 kilometres north east of Nairobi. The following events have been planned to mark the day - soccer, road race, bicycle race, tree planting, traditional dances, choirs, skits/verses, comedy shows and a three day free medical treatment and HIV/AIDS testing and counselling. On publicity, the organizing committee has planned for 8 banners, posters, adverts in the radio, television and leading local newspapers. During the weekend preceding the day, there will be a caravan with banners and a live band performing and will drive along the main town streets and environs of Thika town sensitizing the residents of the event. | Kenya Youth Political Caucus has finalized preparations for this year’s WHD and are planning a cycling race involving youth from various organisations and across the economic and ethnic divide: this event is intended to highlight the determination and stamina of the youth in the face of violence and crime and an uncertain future. On October 2 the organization will conduct a one day seminar, with the view of bringing together stakeholders to discuss this year’s theme. | The Ebony Youth and Orphans Support Initiative is marking this year’s WHD by organizing a youth concert to highlight habitat related issues and how they affect the youth and the community in general. Also planned is a quiz with habitat related questions, and the winners will be given prizes including water containers, T-Shirts etc for their participation as well as a 10-15 minute discussion with panellists and the community touching various habitat related issues. | A women organization under Quaker Friends Church is celebrating this year’s WHD in Shihome village in Western Kenya by carrying out a clean up, a full day training workshop for rural unemployed youths and adults on the ways in which they can improve their living standards as well as a football match bringing together local teams. | To mark this year's WHD, Kapsadwellers, an organization based in the Eastlands area of Nairobi has lined up various activities including a panel discussion on forced evictions, debates on crime and poverty; drugs and insecurity; water insecurity and diseases; ignorance and premature deaths as well as population and insecurity of Land Tenure among others. Kaspadwellers is an acronym for Kayole Spring Valley Slum Dwellers Association which is an umbrella body comprising of youth groups women groups and CBOs, which brings together 40 member organizations. | The Zindua Afrika group based in Nairobi, Kenya is planning to mark the WHD with a one week campaign on the theme "Crime preventing through environmental design". This will be achieved through popular theatre, environmental awareness campaigns as well as posters and public forums. | Lesotho | The organising committee proposes to celebrate World Habitat Day(WHD) on Wednesday 17 October 2007, as the country will be commemorating its independence the first week of the month. The Honourable Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship will make a speech, that will be released through the media on 1 October 2007. The UN Secretary General WHD speech will be also read on television on the same day by the Resident Coordinator. The UN-HABITAT Executive Director’s speech will be read on 17 October when major activities will be made to honour this day.
The proposed activity on the actual day of celebration is an award giving ceremony at Manthabiseng Convention Centre where prizes will be given to the following- Media – Best radio stations in addressing the issue of safety and crime prevention; Schools - best primary and high school students and their schools in writing an essay on this year’s theme "A safe city is a just city". Also to be feted are outstanding performers - Representatives of council wards, Orphanage Centers, Ngo’s (Durham Link) , Motimposo boys who usually assist Police on Road safety and rescue people in Maqalika, Law firms, WILSA and taxi queue marshals. The event will also include an exhibition by outstanding institutions demonstrating how they have contributed in making Maseru a safe city.
| Liberia | WHD in Liberia will be marked with the establishment of sub-committees of the National Habitat Committee in three Cities; a one day lecture and debates on the WHD theme and on Security of Tenure as land issues are becoming very important issues of national development. Also in the pipeline is a one day sporting events to engage the youth in the process. | Libya | More than 200 people attended a special event in the capital Tripoli arranged by UN-HABITAT and the Urban Planning Agency. Opening statements were delivered by the agency chairman, Dr. Amed Al Muhktar Al-Tumi, and the secretary of the National Planning Council, Dr. Mahmoud Jebril. UN-HABITAT representatives outlined their work in the country. | Malawi | Concerned Youth Organisation in Malawi will commemorate the World Habitat Day this year by holding an open discussion and a public information campaign. Both activities will take place in Blantyre on 1st October, 2007 and will focus on urban safety, crime prevention, violence and social justice in line with this year's WHD theme. The youth organisation will also mail information on WHD to over 350 organisations in Malawi and abroad. World Habitat Day Celebration in Malawi | Two events are planned in this country- the national and the local commemorations. The northern city of Mzuzu will host this national event with all activities being aimed at raising awareness on the threats to urban safety. On crime and violence, the activities will highlight the need for cooperation between the Police and urban communities in preventing and fighting urban crime and violence. In the same vein, the local commemoration of the WHD will be held in the city of Blantyre and will be spearheaded by a local youth group called Concerned Youth Organisation (CYO). Two main activities have been lined up: open discussion – this discussion by a number of speakers from various sectors focusing on the issues of urban safety, crime prevention, violence and social justice. Also planned is a Public Information Campaign – this will be held in a squatter settlement of Kachere in Blantyre City and activities will include drama, traditional dances, poetry, music performances, quiz and speeches by invited guests. | Mauritius | The Ministry of Housing & Lands in Mauritius is organizing a five day awareness campaign on the theme ‘A safe city is a just city’ in the region of Plaine Verte in Port Louis, the capital city. The emphasis is being laid on, crime prevention, and urban security. Police authorities are actively involved especially the Crime Prevention Unit, Road Safety Unit and Anti-Drug Smuggling Unit. | Nigeria | The Abuja Chapter of Nigerian Environmental Society hosted a symposium to mark this year’s WHD. The event, which was held in partnership with Abuja Environmental Protection Board and other stakeholders, was aimed at enlightening the public and creating a forum to discuss issues of safety of Nigerian cities and Abuja in particular. The symposium addressed issues of environmental safety, (improper waste disposal, water and air pollution, landscape beautification, degradation), community safety (crime, fire outbreak, non compliance to town plans) and road safety. | Shelter Watch Initiative, a Lagos based NGO will mark this year’s WHD by bringing together some 700 artisans for a 5 kilometre walk to raise awareness on matters relating to shelter development improvements. The walk will culminate with a visit to the Executive Governor of the State of Lagos Mr. Babtunde Fashola. | Women Environmental Programme, a Nigerian NGO is commemorating this year's World Habitat Day with a drama theatre in Abuja targeting the people living in slums, policy makers and government representatives to create awareness on this year's theme "A safe city is a just city" . | The Rural People’s Encouragers Network of Rivers State in Nigeria is planning a four day event to mark this year’s WHD. According to the officials, the planned activities will showcase a skill acquisition training workshop for rural unemployed youths and adults; a mini essay on this year theme; a mini paper presentations as well as plays. The organizers further model house constructions training and a free medical service.
| The Global Grassroot Youth Forum has planned a major event to mark the WHD in Nigeria. The main event will be held in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River state and will include an awareness rally.Before this there will be the Habitat Night on 22 September which will be an open forum to discus about the world habitat day. On Monday October 1 the main event will be marked by speeches from the UN Secretary General, the UN HABITAT Executive Director as well as invited VIPs. | Africa Initiative for Environment Sustainable Network plans to mark this year’s WHD by drawing attention of NGOs, CSOs CBOs, public private participation policy makers to review the MoU with the exploration companies on the issue of cleanup of oil spillage, and provide basic amenities for livelihood to those living there. It is therefore organizing a workshop to bring together all stakeholders to sentitise them on its Community rural resettlement program which deals with issues concerning displacement, damage and concern for the environment. The network will also carry out research on the present state of damage and environment degradation in the region. | Senegal | In Senegal, the women's NGO, Collectif Sénégalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l’Education Relative à l’Environnement (COSAPER)is planning a three-day event starting on September 29. The celebration, taking place in Dakar, will literally kick start with a football tournament, followed by a cross country race and end in a workshop reflecting on this year’s theme: “A safe City is Just City”. Among the long list of participants COSAPERRE is expecting representatives from the ministries of urbanization and construction, home affairs, decentralization and local authorities, education, health, transport, environment and public works. | Tanzania | A group of students from the University of Dar es Salaam celebrated WHD by organizing a public talk. Under this year’s theme of A safe city is a just city, the students distributed posters, held a press conference as well as using artistic groups to raise awareness and encourage reflection on the mounting threats to urban safety and social justice particularly urban crime and violence, forced eviction and insecurity of tenure as well as natural and human made disasters. | The World Habitat Day 2007 in Tanzania was coordinated by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development. The Ministry involved a good number of representatives of stakeholders, the media as well as development partners. This year the day was marked by a televised nationwide speech by the minister which was aired on Sunday. On Monday there were supplements carried in the local newspapers explaining the day and what it entails. | Togo | A local NGO "Mouvement d'Organisation des Ruraux pour le Dévéloppment (MORD)" (Rural Population Development Movement) is organizing a series of sensitization public debates in the rural villages and counties of Grand-Kloto and Agou. The "travelling" debates, centred around this year's WHD theme, will start on September 24 in the villages of Kpalimé and Yoh in the region of Kloto, and will culminate in a grand public event at Agou-Kébo. | Uganda | A Ugandan non governmental organization, Foundation for Rural Housing, celebrated this year's WHD by presenting a petition to parliament on matters of human settlements. The deputy speaker Rebecca Kadaga received the petition on behalf of the speaker and pledged to take up the matter. | The Foundation for Rural Housing (FHS- Uganda) is organizing a pre-World Habitat Day event to present a petition to the speaker of Parliament of the republic of Uganda on Monday 24 September 2007. The event meant to highlight World Habitat Day celebrations will be preceded by a peaceful match seeking to raise awareness on the state of housing in Uganda. FHSE-Uganda is an organization that seeks to encourage, work and partner with all stake holders in human settlements both in Uganda and all over the world. | Zambia | The National Habitat Forum, whose membership includes National Housing Authority, the Zambia Low Cost Housing Fund Trust, the People’s Process on Housing, the Swedish Cooperative Centre, Lusaka City Council, the Food and Trees for Zambia and Lusaka Water and Sewerage Department, has organized a number of activities to mark World Habitat Day. The activities will be held at Chaisa setlement in recognition of community-spearheaded development programmes taking place there to improve the human habitat. The activities centered around the theme “A safe city is a just city” will include a live radio programme on 21 September 2007, a workshop on 26 and 27 September, a clean up exercise on 28 September and a live prime time television broadcast by the Minister of Local Government on 30 September. Activities on the actual day, will include speeches from the government, skits and a tour to developmental projects in the settlement. | Zimbabwe | The Department of Architecture at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe is planning to raise the WHD awareness in several cities in that country.This will be achieved by organising students' architectural exhibitions the three cities namely: Bulawayo, Harare and if possible Mutare. There are also plans to have promotional events in two cities and the one final event on World Habitat Day in Mutare. |
Asia and the Pacific | Country | Event | India
| Department of Architecture of Sathyabama University, Chennai in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Town Planners Association, Tamil Nadu Chapter and UN-HABITAT celebrated the World Habitat Day at Sathyabama University on 10th October 2007. Apart from the host college students, there were fifty students from various city colleges who participated in the workshop followed by the “on the spot competitions” on the theme. The inaugural address was delivered by Mr Subash Chandira; Chairman, ITPI TN Chapter. He elaborated regarding the various statistics required for a safe city, which is totally lacking at the moment. Mr. G. Dattatri, Former Advisor, UN HABITAT and Trustee SUSTAIN went into depth of the Theme - “A safe city is a just city” while Dr Jepplar, the Chancellor ,Sathyabama University made a special address where he expressed his views on slums and pockets of poverty that exist in rich countries being located in well-defined spaces where all development goals can be tackled together, where economies of scale can be realized, and where one intervention can have a multiplier effect. His speech was followed by the prize distribution for the Birla White Cement’s Competitions held in 2006 where eight students of Sathyabama University received their certificates and mementos. The valedictory function was organized at the end of the workshop where winning students received their prizes. | Two Indian non-governmental organizations, the Trust for Regeneration of Environment and Economy (TREE) in collaboration with the Regional Science Centre (RSC) organized elocution, essay and sit and draw competitions for school children as part of the celebrations to mark this year’s World Habitat Day. | The Department of Architecture of Sathyabama University, Chennai in collaboration with UN-HABITAT and the Indian Institute of Town Planners Association, Tamil Nadu Chapter (ITPI-TN) held a workshop at Sathyabama University on 10 October 2007 on the theme of A safe city is a just city. Students from various city colleges participated in the workshop which featured “on the spot competitions”. The inaugural address was delivered by Mr. Subash Chandira, Chairman of ITPI-TN, who highlighted the lack of local statistics on safe cities. Mr. Dattatri, a winner of the Habitat Scroll of Honour and trustee of SUSTAIN, a Chennai-based non-governmental organization that works for sustainable development of cities, also discussed the theme while Dr. Jepplar, Chancellor of Sathyabama University made a special address on some rich countries' strategy of locating slums and pockets of poverty in well-defined spaces so that all development goals can be tackled together, economies of scale realized, and multiplier effects of single interventions achieved.
The Birla White Cement’s competitions, held in 2006, also held their award ceremony at the function; eight students from Sathyabama University received prizes. | CARE India through its Sustained Nutrition, Education, Health and Livelihood (SNEHAL) Program and its Partner NGOs (Saath, Mjila Housing SEWA Trust and Ahmedbad Women's Action Group) are planning to Open an Urban Resource Centre, hold an awareness rally on water, sanitation and disaster preparedness and hold a sensitization meeting for Community and local urban governance bodies to mark the occasion of World Habitat Day. | Hindustan College of Engineering, Chennai in collaboration with UN-HABITAT, Chennai Information Office and Citizens Alliance for Sustainable Living (SUSTAIN) is organizing an Interactive Workshop of students of Planning and Architecture on the theme “A Safe City is a Just City” on 3rd October 2007. At the same time, Sathyabama University, Chennai in association with UN-HABITAT and Institute of Town Planners, India, Tamil Nadu Chapter, is celebrating World Habitat Day 2007 on Wednesday, 10th October 2007 where on-the spot design competitions will be held on various topics of the main theme for students of architecture and planning of Sathyabama University and other colleges in and around Chennai. Finally, UN-HABITAT Information Office in association with Citizens Alliance for Sustainable Living (SUSTAIN) and The Institution of Engineers (India) Tamil Nadu State Centre is celebrating World Habitat Day 2007 at The Institution of Engineers (Indai) in Chennai.
| The Ahmedabad Women's Action Group (AWAG), which has been working in Ahmedabad city and many other small towns of Gujarat since 1981, will organize an awareness raising rally. The rally will target 3,000 households and will use games, exhibitions and banners to highlight the plight of the urban poor in Bapunagar, located in the eastern part of Ahmedabad city. AWAG focus on women and development in society. | The Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council, an inter-Ministerial organisation under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, will publish a special issue of Building Materials News featuring a wide range of human settlements issues on the occasion of World Habitat Day. | Osmania Medical College Doctors' Forum - a body of doctors of the institute concerned with health and development will herald the celebration of the World Habitat Day with a news conference on 28th September 2007 focussing on the theme of the year 'A safe City is a Just City'. Also planned is a painting competition for children and an interactive session on crime against women in the city of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh province of India. | The City Managers’ Association Orissa (CMAO) will be observing the World Habitat Day in Orissa, India. The main objective of the event is to make the City Managers - both elected and officials - understand the essence of World Habitat Day. The world habitat day will be observed in association with the state government through the Housing & Urban Development Department. This year on World Habitat Day, CMAO proposes to release special edition of a newsletter focusing Best Practices in Urban Sector and will organize a discussion on the theme A SAFE CITY IS A JUST CITY within background of problems and best practices. The focus of the discussion is expected to be the identification of indictors for monitoring cities’ overall performance. CMAO will develop background paper / literature and case studies for dissemination among members and media representatives. The target participants include city managers, officers of the urban local bodies, senior government decision makers, citizens, politicians, NGOs, local urban experts etc. | Krityanand UNESCO Club KRITYANAND UNESCO CLUB ,India will organize a one day conference involving members of communities, students and media on the theme " Green city - for safe city is a just city.” The event will emphasise tree planting in urban areas so that the increasing of population in the city will enjoy the good effect of Green city and protection from environmental pollution. | In India there will be a long build-up to World Habitat Day. The city of Ahmedabad, for example, has planned a series of activities arranged by Action Aid India. From July arrange meetings with slum community leaders to discuss various problems they face. Throughout August and September, the poor will be able to express their opinions, and a poster campaign will be held. In September a two-day rights awareness workshop is planned.for awareness of rights. | The "Bhagidari Jan Sahyog Samiti" is organizing a State level Mega Event to mark this year’s WHD. On the cards are sports events bringing together community policing groups and a special interaction session on women issues. The Interaction Session and Exhibitions on Women issues will include Prevention of Drugs and Crime and Sexual Harassment at workplace. Also to be discussed is Domestic Violence Act, Aids Control, Security of women and girls, Social justice etc. A participation of 3,000 representatives is expected including girl students, teachers, Principals, Advocates, Law students, Community Workers , Social Activists of NGOS etc. | Japan | Series of activities have been lined up to commemorate this year’s WHD in Japan. Some of these activities include a symposium on this year’s theme, a public forum as well as a drawing contest targeting children in grades 4 to 6. Those collaborating on this event include the UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, supported by Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka City, Kitakyushu City, UN-HABITAT Cooperating Committee, Fukuoka International Exchange Foundation, Fukuoka International Association, Fukuoka Asia Urban Research Center, UN Association of Japan Fukuoka Head Office and the Japan Habitat Association." | Malaysia | Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Housing (EAROPH Malaysia) together with Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) are organising the WHD 2007 national ideas competition, a seminar and an exhibition on the theme of this year’s event to raise awareness of the continuing issues and challenges facing the country in the areas of human settlements. The competition is open to all Malaysians and other residents in Malaysia and is divided into two categories- for the Public and for students of Institution of Higher Learning. The first category is open to all Malaysians and residents in Malaysia (including foreigners) as well as any individual, group or organisation and anyone interested in the area of planning, human settlement and safe city including planners, architect, engineers, lawyers, residents associations, NGOs, government servants, security personnel and any professionals or organisations. Submission could be done individually or in a group. | Nepal | The World Habitat Day celebrations in Kathmandu will feature a talk show on local FM station as well as on TV about the 2007 edition of World Habitat Day and housing issues with involvement of a senior government official , a civil society member and the public at large. Also planned is publication of a special WHD Bulletin and an essay competition among the engineering graduates from the different engineering colleges around the Kathmandu Valley. The three best essays, entitled "A Safe City is a Just City", will be published in a special bulletin and awarded a prize. About 10,0000 badges branded with the slogan for this year "A Safe City is a Just City" will also be distributed in different road crossings of the Kathmandu Valley with the involvement of squatter communities. | Sri Lanka | Organizing WHD Sri Lanka for 2007 was kicked off on 22nd June 2007 at a meeting under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Housing where the outline for the 2007 activities was agreed upon. Kandy City which is the second largest in the country was selected for the main event. The festivities will see an awareness creation among the urban communities and participation of school children as citizens of tomorrow in several activities such as essay competitions, poster competitions and debating contests organized.
| South Korea | To mark this year’s WHD, Citizens for Decent Housing (CiDeH) a Seoul Republic of Korea based organization is developing a wide international networking program with Asian Countries called Asian NGOs Network on Affordable Housing (ANAH). It plans to host the Asian NGO Leader's Academy program whose mission is to strengthen the boundaries between Asian country housing communities. Other groups expected to take part include CDEA-Laos, LUMANTI-Nepal, Habitat For Humanity-Indonesia, SLTD-Nepal, UPM-Malaysia, SSS-Japan, RMI-Indonesia, DAMPA-Philippines, HRTF-Cambodia. The events are supported by Transportation & Construction Department, Korea National Housing Corporation, and Seoul City Government. | The Philippines | An event to promote direct lending to home owners will be launched at the UN offices at the RCBC Plaza, Makati City. It will be a function to formally announce the opening and promotion of the use of the housing finance facility allowing homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to directly apply for housing and site improvement loans with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) under the ADB’s Development of Poor Urban Communities Sector Project (DPUCSP). Main stakeholders will be involved in the event namely: UN-HABITAT, Asian Development Bank (ADB), DBP, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), local government units (LGUs) and HOAs. The system is the first of its kind in the country and is a landmark in shelter financing in that it acknowledges the HOAs as capable partners in achieving the vision of “Cities without Slums.” This is a shift in the lending paradigm with the formal sector lending to the informal sector. In the same event, the Global Report on Human Settlements 2007: Enhancing Urban Safety and Security, will be launched and the report turned over to the Philippine Government, represented by the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the League of Cities of the Philippines. In the afternoon of the same day, a protective fence will be built along the Saging Creek in the North Rail relocation site in Northville 2, Barangay Bignay, Valenzuela City. | | The "Federación Internacional de Abogadas" (International Women's Federation of Lawyers), a local NGO, intends to use the regular blocktime it has on a local radio station to highlight this year’s WHD and encourage the listeners to take active part in the celebrations. The programme will make monthly references to the WHD until it is held in October. The initial airing was on May 12, 2007, in partnership with Pag-IBIG Fund, one of the recipients of the Scroll of Honour Award for 2006. For at least once a month, the one-hour program over is hosted by Vilma Q. Flores of Pag-IBIG Fund. |
Arab States | Country | Event | Iraq | As part of celebrations marking this year’s WHD, the Iraqi Engineers Union (IEU) undertook a nation wide needs assessment survey to assess and evaluate the capacities of the country’s local authorities on local governance. A council member of IEU also organized a workshop to reflect on the state of Iraqi cities and slums around them as well as the conditions of basic services. Governmental officers, CSOs, private sector, academia, media and citizen's representatives took part in the workshop. | The Iraqi Engineers Union (IEU) is organizing a local awareness - raising event on the first of October,2007 to mark WHD. In the pipeline is an eye-opening workshop to reflect on the state of Iraqi cities and slums spreading both inside and around cities and the conditions of basic services. Slated for a safe city within Iraq, the event is expected to bring together government officers, civil society organizations, private sector, academia, the media as well as citizens’ representatives will be invited to participate in the workshop. The occasion will also be used to publicize reward and demonstrate how effective participation may improve the lives of slum dwellers and the level of access to water and sanitation in the community. |
Middle East States | Israel | As part of this year’s WHD celebrations, the Environmental Justice Committee, within the frame of "Life and Environment" --umbrella organization of all Israeli environmental NGO's--, will publish the Environmental Injustice Report, to look with key issues of socio-environment, poor infrastructures, disadvantaged neighbourhoods, with an emphasis in particular on mixed cities with Jewish and Arab population. Also planned is a special lobbying session will issue at a special session at the Knesset (The Israeli Parliament) with participation of the Minister of Environmental Defence and the minister of Housing. |
Australia | Australia | To mark this year's World Habitat Day, "Emergency Architects Australia" in collaboration with the "Sydney Architecture Festival", will be making a presentation of its work to open the Festival. Other presenters will also be dealing with humanitarian architectural efforts. |
Europe | Italy | On occasion of World Habitat Day 2007, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) collaborated with UN-HABITAT for a seminar titled “Food secure cities and sustainable development” in Rome. | Malta | The Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers in Malta will commemorate World Habitat Day and World Architecture Day with a series of events running from 1 October to 20 October. The events will include the inauguration of an exhibition of Contemporary Maltese architecture, Children’s Workshop, guided tour to the Prehistoric Temples, an architectural students’ workshop. The events will be crowned off by Architecture Nights whose guests will include the Presidents of the various Architectural Chambers and Associations for Western Europe and the UIA (Union Internationale des Architectes). | Portugal | In order to mark this year’s World Habitat day, the Institute of Housing and Urban Renewal together with the State Secretary of Land Planning and Cities has considered the opportunity within the framework of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU, of promoting an international conference dedicated to the Housing Social Policies: challenges of nowadays. The conference to be held on the Portuguese Parliament will also see presentations by EU Member States. | Poland | The WHD activities in Poland will be focused on three activities, the first of which will be a conference devoted to the issue of security in the urban areas, which will be held on 3rd October 2007 in Warsaw. The target group of the conference is mainly local authorities, experts and media, with members of the public being welcomed. A poster competition for students will form the second component of the celebrations. The students have been invited to create a poster related to the principal theme of this year's WHD and official results as well as the presentation of awards will be done at the above mentioned conference. Finally, there will be a presentation on women's safety audit of selected areas in Warsaw. It is based on UN-Habitat and METRAC methodology and will be held in August. Working on the audit, UN-Habitat will cooperate closely with a Polish NGO (www.fundacjamama.pl) and the Municipality of Warsaw.
| Serbia | UN-HABITAT Serbia together with its partners in central government, local governments, and civil society is organizing a wide range of events and activities to raise awareness and stimulate debate on this year's WHD theme of A safe city is a just city. The main focus of this year's celebrations in Serbia will be urban safety, security of tenure, and issues relating to youth, other vulnerable groups and our communities in general. Since 2004, UN-HABITAT has been implementing the Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in seven cities and municipalities in Serbia. The 15 million euro Programme is financed by the Government of Italy and implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Serbia. | Switzerland | As part of this year’s WHD celebrations, European researchers concerning urbanisation are gathering at a Seminar on ‘New Deals in Urban Governance: Local-global Interfaces and Institutional Arrangements in Cities.’ The event is organised by European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) and hosted by Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED) – Graduate Institute of International Studies and Development (HEID), Geneva, on 1-2 October in Geneva. The Seminar will focus on two main areas of concern in urbanisation: (1) the impacts and politics of new institutional arrangements for land tenure, basic services, housing and mobility, and (2) new forms of citizenship, participation and democracy versus conflict and competition between different views on urban development. The politics of institutional arrangements in urban governance have been a topic on which researchers have been working, in which a body of research is emerging based on case studies in a variety of countries in the global South and North. This makes it possible to draw out general propositions on the opportunities and limitations of such new institutional arrangements in transforming the quality of life for ordinary citizens in urban areas, the reduction of poverty, and the extension of participation and democratic citizenship. |
Latin America and the Caribbean | Brazil | This year’s WHD celebrations in Brazil will be marked with a round-table discussion to implement decisions involving population, municipal officers and local civil authorities especially about the solutions for Habitat for the Poor. A cultural activity will follow the debates, involving local artists such as musicians and performers." | Cuba | World Habitat Day in Cuba will be held in close collaboration with the Habitat National Committee. There is a proposal to have the theme " A safe city is a just city", which will include issues like social policies and social justice; prevention of crime and urban security and security of tenure and housing improvement. The debate will form part of the main activity that also includes the messages from Secretary General of the United Nations and from the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. The organisers are also promoting other activities to reflect to the state of human settlements in other Cuban cities. | Guatemala | The Municipality of Guatemala City, will mark the 2007 edition of World Habitat Day with the inauguration of a new public park called "Nuevo Parque de Ciudad Nueva", located in the north of the city. The park's historic and social importance is highlighted by the fact that it is located in the area of the first Guatemala City settlements and the socio-economic diversity of its current inhabitants. Its concept was based on the City's commitment to the reclamation and creation of public space areas as well as in the betterment of the living environment and promotion of social cohesion. |
North America | Country | Event | Canada | On October 1, 2007, the Province of Manitoba hosted a one-day forum in Winnipeg with the theme, “A Safe City is a Just City” in conjunction with other communities all over the world as part of the United Nations' World Habitat Day. Over 100 Winnipeggers came together to address issues of urban safety from a social justice and community development perspective. The full day forum included panel presentations by representatives of community organizations on their community-based approaches to neighbourhood safety; keynote speakers from the University of Winnipeg and Province of Manitoba Department of Justice, and concluded with small group discussions to identify collective ongoing safety priorities. www.neighbourhoodsalive.mb.ca | Community safety volunteers in Thompson, Manitoba, are holding a series of community safety patrol of its members in the Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) to mark the occasion of World Habitat Day. Considered the ""eyes and ears" of the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the volunteers are mandated to report it to the authorities without otherwise becoming involved in any way. Throughout the province of Manitoba, they have over 2,000 volunteers in close to 100 communities. They invited various organizations dealing with crime prevention, and work with victims or offenders, to set up information displays on the evening of October 9th. The patrols will have a special theme for each route like gang awareness and treasure hunts . | USA | Habitat for Humanity Coachella Valley will celebrate World Habitat Day by holding the 26th groundbreaking ceremony for a partner family who are also victims of urban delinquency. This event will be highlighted with a public information campaign on the growing urbanization of the Valley, along with the hazards and benefits that this growth has brought to cities and communities. | | In the United States, Habitat for Humanity is planning to launch a high-profile public awareness campaign on poverty housing issues around the world. The goal is to launch that campaign on October 1 in conjunction with World Habitat Day. The launch is planned to include a large interactive exhibit with photos and materials that highlights causes, effects and scale of poverty/substandard housing around the world. Messaging will reflect that of the MDGs. This exhibit, already in development, will bring the issue of shelter and housing to the mainstream media and the public. To hold it on World Habitat Day would help elevate the day and the issue – perhaps with the long-term goal of reaching the widespread recognition achieved by World AIDS Day. |
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