UNITED NATIONS	HS
	Commission on Human Settlements	Distr. LIMITED HS/C/17/L.14 12 May 1999 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

The Commission on Human Settlements,

Recalling the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements 1/ adopted by the General Assembly, which identifies local authorities as the closest partners of Governments and, as essential, in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda,

Further recalling paragraph 223 of the Habitat Agenda 2/ and paragraph 21 of General Assembly resolution 51/177 of 16 December 1996, which call for a review of the working methods of the Commission in order to involve in its work representatives of local authorities and other partners in the field of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, taking into account its rules of procedure,

Also recalling its resolution 16/12 of 7 May 1997 on the review of the working methods of the Commission on Human Settlements: the involvement of partners,

Noting with satisfaction the important contribution made by local authorities from all over the world to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, including the effective partnerships being established between the Centre, member States, and local authorities in the design, adoption and implementation of local plans of action inspired by the Habitat Agenda and consistent with local Agendas 21,

Recognizing the urgent need to accelerate international, regional and national progress in the adoption of policy measures aimed at strengthening cooperation between central and local governments,

Noting that the Commission on Human Settlements is the United Nations body uniquely suited to foster this policy dialogue and action,

Considering that innovative measures need to be adopted on an urgent basis to accelerate action in the work leading to the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, to be held in June 2001,

1. Requests the Executive Director to establish a committee of local authorities as an advisory body which would serve the purpose of strengthening the dialogue with local authorities from all over the world involved in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda;

2. Decides that the members of the Committee shall be selected by the Executive Director from States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, in consultation with national Governments, where appropriate, and based upon nominations, inter alia, by regional or international associations of local authorities;

3. Further decides that the Committee shall be composed of not more than twenty members, as selected by the Executive Director, taking into account the broadest possible representativeness, including equitable regional distribution;

4. Invites the Executive Director to convene the constituting meeting of the Committee, if possible during 1999, in order to decide on its rules of procedure and to formulate its main functions and activities with a view to strengthening the cooperation between local authorities and all other stakeholders in regard to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and local Agendas 21;

5. Also requests the Executive Director to provide a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission at its eighteenth session, including in that report suggestions on strengthening the involvement of local authorities and other partners in the work of the Commission.

2/    Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996, chap. I, resolution 1, annex II (A/CONF.165/14).