A number of special sessions on topics closely related to the theme of the Forum will be organised by UN-Habitat and its partners.

Private sector consultation meeting (By invitation only)
UN-HABITAT
Room: MR 302

A consultation meeting of private sector companies committed to corporate responsibility, improving living conditions and achieving harmonious cities, and who are incorporating these goals in their business activities. This session is open to all private sector companies.

UN-HABITAT Lecture Award and launch of "Urban World"
The Global Research Network on Human Settlements (HS-Net)
Room: MF Hall 2

The UN-HABITAT Lecture Award is an award that recognizes outstanding and sustained contribution to research and thinking in the human settlements field. The Award winner is presented with a cash prize and a commemorative plaque engraved with his/her name. Upon selection, the Award winner is invited to deliver a thought-provoking lecture at one of UN-Habitat's main international events. The Award rotates regionally every year and the 2008 Award focuses on the Asia Pacific region. The winner of this year's Award is Professor Anthony Gar-On Yeh of the University of Hong Kong. He will deliver his lecture entitled “GIS as a Planning Support System for Harmonious Cities” at the Forum. During this event, the new flagship magazine of UN-HABITAT, "Urban World" will also be launched by the Executive Director, Ms. Anna Tibajiuka.

Harmony in the rapid process of urbanization 
Jiangsu Province
Room: Zhongshan Ballroom

Special session on role of government in Housing finance systems: The sub-prime mortgage crisis: Implications, lessons and options
UN-HABITAT
Room: MR 413

This special session discusses the current housing finance crisis and its impacts on the global housing sector and affordable housing and economy. It examines the underlying factors and evolution of the sub-prime crisis and its spreading, and the major players in the crisis, particularly the role of government, government-sponsored enterprises and specialised housing finance institutions and innovative funding instruments. Will the bailout plan bring an end to the crisis or to the Dollar hegemony? The special session will discuss lessons and options under the crisis and implications of extended government intervention in the housing finance market.

Civil Society Organizations consultation
UN-HABITAT
Room: MR 302

The theme of the Consultation is “Civil Society: Partner and Catalyst for Sustainable Urbanization and Harmonious Cities”. The meeting will provide a platform for Civil Society Organizations representatives to discuss issues of sustainable urbanization and the goal of harmonious cities; it will also promote Civil Society Organization’s capacity in these areas. The first part of the Consultation will consist of a presentation of current urban issues and trends mainly taken from the State of the World’s Cities Report 2008/2009. During the second part, UN-HABITAT will present a Civil Society strategy paper for discussion and comments. The third part of the session will be reserved for CSO issues arising from the WUF4.

Challenges faced by indigenous peoples in urban areas
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with UN-Habitat
Room: MR 303A

Indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable to discrimination and often hindered from fully participating in the social, political and economic spheres of the city. In addition, environmental challenges, notably the effect of climate change on traditional territories, can have a particularly negative impact on livelihoods, contributing to increased migration to urban areas. This event brings together indigenous peoples’ representatives, governments, UN agencies, academics and NGOs to discuss the role of local authorities in addressing challenges facing indigenous peoples in urban areas and to identify priority areas for tool development to support national and local authorities in responding to indigenous people’s issues.

UN-Habitat Gender Equality Action Plan
UN-HABITAT and Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Norway
Room: MR 301

Cities and towns are growing rapidly.  These cities face enormous challenges that include rising unemployment, poverty, lack of affordable housing and secure tenure, infrastructure and access to basic facilities.  Recent studies conducted by UN-Habitat have shown that the degree of deprivation experienced by the world’s one billion slum dwellers is often higher and that the most vulnerable among the slum dwellers are women and young girls. In response to meeting this challenge, UN-Habitat is developing a Gender Equality Action Plan. This consultative event brings together Donors, National and Local Governments, NGOs, grassroots, women organizations professional institutes and other stakeholders to identify the priority areas for UN-Habitat gender equality action plan and provide inputs to the draft framework prepared.

Decent Work in the Urbanized World: Building Sustainable Cities: The decent work agenda in the construction sector
International Labour Organization (ILO) and Building and Wood Workers International (BWI)
Room: MFH 2

The construction sector contributes significantly to the economy and employment of cities. Building workers make and shape our cities. This session will facilitate dialogue between building workers, employers and local authorities to promote their role and improve their working conditions. It will highlight the role of building workers in the creation of sustainable cities. It will bring to sharp focus the working conditions of construction and migrant workers and stimulate debate on how to improve these conditions to meet national and international norms and standards. The role of local authorities and other stakeholders in promoting sustainable building and the decent work agenda within the construction sector through appropriate instruments such as labour standards and procurement policies will be discussed. Notable speakers representing labour, employers and local government will share their perspectives and experiences.

From China to Brazil
Room: Auditorium