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Declaration
on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium
We,
the representatives of Governments, being guided by the purposes
and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, meeting
at this special session of the General Assembly to review
the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, to recognize progress,
and to identify obstacles and emerging issues, reaffirm our
will and commitment to implement fully the Istanbul Declaration
on Human Settlements [Report of the United
Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul,
3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6),
chap. I, resolution 1, annex I.] and the Habitat Agenda
and decide on further initiatives, in the spirit of the United
Nations Millennium Declaration.[Resolution
55/2.] The Istanbul Declaration and the Habitat Agenda
[Ibid., annex II.] will remain the basic
framework for sustainable human settlements development in
the years to come.
Therefore,
we:
A Renewing the commitments made at the United Nations Conference
on Human Settlements (Habitat II)
1. Reaffirm that human beings are at the centre of our concern
for sustainable development and that they are the basis for
our actions in implementing the Habitat Agenda;
2.
Wish to stress that this is a special moment in the development
of human settlements, when half of the world's six billion
people will be living in cities and the world is facing unprecedented
growth of urban population, mainly in the developing world.
The decisions we make now will have far-reaching consequences.
We note with great concern that one out of four of the world's
urban population is living below the poverty line. In many
cities, confronted with rapid growth, environmental problems
and the slow pace of economic development, it has not been
possible to meet the challenges of generating sufficient employment,
providing adequate housing and meeting the basic needs of
the citizens;
3.
Re-emphasize that rural and urban areas are economically,
socially and environmentally interdependent, and that cities
and towns are engines of growth contributing to the development
of both rural and urban human settlements. Half of the world's
inhabitants live in rural settlements, and, in Africa and
Asia, the population in the rural areas represents a majority.
Integrated physical planning and balanced attention to rural
and urban living conditions are of crucial importance for
all nations. Full advantage must be taken of the complementary
contributions and linkages between rural and urban areas,
by giving appropriate attention to their different economic,
social and environmental requirements. While addressing urban
poverty, it is also essential to eradicate rural poverty and
to improve living conditions, as well as to create employment
and educational opportunities in rural settlements and small
and medium-sized cities and towns in rural areas;
4.
Reconfirm our determination to address at all levels the deteriorating
environmental conditions that threaten the health and quality
of life of billions of people. Some activities at the local
level that degrade the environment have implications at the
global level and need to be addressed in the context of human
settlements;
5.
Reconfirm the goals and principles of adequate shelter for
all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing
world, as set out in the Habitat Agenda,[Report
of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat
II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication,
Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II, para.
25.] which form the basis of our commitments;
6.
Renew and reaffirm our commitments in the Habitat Agenda concerning
adequate shelter for all, sustainable human settlements, enablement
and participation, gender equality, financing shelter and
human settlements, international cooperation, and assessing
progress;
B Welcoming progress in implementing the Habitat Agenda
7. Commend the efforts by all levels of government, the United
Nations, other intergovernmental organizations and Habitat
Agenda partners as well as those by the Executive Director
of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)
and welcome the progress made thus far towards implementation
of the Habitat Agenda. We note with appreciation the national
and regional reports on the implementation of the Habitat
Agenda[The reports were provided to participants
in the special session as resource documents.] and
the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations
Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) on the review and appraisal
of progress made in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda,[A/S-25/3.]
taking into account the specific priorities and objectives
of each region, and in conformity with the legal framework
and national policies of each country;
8.
Welcome the decision by the Commission on Human Rights at
its fifty-sixth session[See Official Records
of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3
and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A,
resolution 2000/9.] that the Special Rapporteur whose
mandate will focus on adequate housing as a component of the
right to an adequate standard of living should, as a part
of his mandate, develop a regular dialogue and discuss possible
areas of collaboration with Governments, relevant United Nations
bodies, specialized agencies, international organizations
in the field of housing rights, including the United Nations
Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), non-governmental organizations
and international financial institutions, and make recommendations
on the realization of the rights relevant to the mandate;
9.
Also take note with satisfaction of the growing awareness
of the need to address in an integrated manner poverty, homelessness,
unemployment, lack of basic services, exclusion of women and
of children and marginalized groups, including indigenous
communities, and social fragmentation in order to achieve
better, more liveable and inclusive human settlements worldwide.
Governments, international organizations and members of civil
society have made continuous efforts to address these problems;
10.
Take note of the development of integrated and participatory
approaches to urban environmental planning and management
in relation to the implementation of Agenda 21. In this regard
we welcome the support provided by many Governments to mechanisms
for consultations and partnerships among interested parties
to prepare and implement local environmental plans and local
Agenda 21 initiatives;
11.
Welcome the increasing economic role of cities and towns in
our globalizing world and the progress made in forging public-private
partnerships and strengthening small and microenterprises.
Cities and towns hold the potential to maximize the benefits
and to offset the negative consequences of globalization.
Well-managed cities can provide an economic environment capable
of generating employment opportunities as well as offering
a diversity of goods and services;
12.
Welcome the efforts made so far by many developing countries
in effecting decentralization in the management of cities
as a means of strengthening the operation of the local authorities
in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda;
13.
Also welcome the contributions of national and other Governments,
which have the primary responsibility for the implementation
of the Habitat Agenda through their laws, policies and programmes;
14.
Appreciate the important contribution made by local authorities
worldwide in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda through
concerted efforts and strengthened partnerships between Governments
at all levels, resulting in the improved condition of human
settlements, including improved urban governance. Broad-based
participation in decision-making, together with accountability,
simplicity of procedures and transparency, is imperative to
prevent corruption and to promote public interests. In this
regard, we note with satisfaction the increased priority given
to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and to the principles
of good governance at all levels;
15.
Recognize the important work done by the Global Parliamentarians
on Habitat in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. At
the same time, we encourage them to continue promoting the
implementation of the Habitat Agenda;
16.
Recognize that the overall thrust of the new strategic vision
of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)
and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure
and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the
effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially
for guiding international cooperation on adequate shelter
for all and sustainable human settlements development. In
this regard, we welcome the establishment of the Advisory
Committee of Local Authorities and express our appreciation
for its contributions to the work of the United Nations Centre
for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the preparation of the
special session of the General Assembly;
C Recognizing gaps and obstacles
17. Take note with great concern of the current conditions
of human settlements worldwide, especially as documented in
the third Global Report on Human Settlements 2001. Although
Governments and their Habitat Agenda partners have continued
efforts to fulfil their commitments, widespread poverty remains
the core obstacle and environmental conditions need significant
improvement in many countries. Critically, the majority of
people living in poverty still lack legal security of tenure
for their dwellings, while others lack even basic shelter.
Thus, serious impediments to sustainable human settlements
development still persist;
18.
Note with concern that one of the basic obstacles to the implementation
of the Habitat Agenda is the discrepancy between commitments
made at Istanbul and the political will to fulfil them. We
also acknowledge the gaps in both public information and awareness-raising
as impediments;
19.
Recognize that serious financial constraints give rise to
acute problems of adequate shelter, housing and human settlements
in countries that receive an influx of refugees resulting
from ongoing conflicts, human-made and natural disasters and
other calamities taking place in neighbouring countries;
20.
Acknowledge the gaps in shelter and urban policies that have
limited the opportunities for participation and partnership
and have made it difficult to convert best practices into
good policies. We are also deeply concerned that many women
still do not participate fully on the basis of equality in
all spheres of society, while at the same time suffering to
a greater extent the effects of poverty;
21.
Also acknowledge the fact that the urbanization process in
the world has resulted in metropolitan concentrations that
extend over the administrative boundaries of the original
cities, expand over two or more administrative units, have
local authorities with different capacities and priorities
and suffer an absence of coordination;
22.
Recognize major obstacles that prevent the efficient functioning
of land and housing markets to ensure an adequate supply of
shelter. Actions recommended in paragraph 76 of the Habitat
Agenda3 have not been fully implemented;
23.
Have identified considerable obstacles associated with limited
economic, technological and institutional capacities at all
levels of government, particularly in the developing and the
least developed countries. We recognize the absence of comprehensive
and inclusive policies for capacity-building institutions
and their networking;
24.
Have also identified economic policies and financial market
constraints at all levels that have prevented the mobilization
of adequate resources to meet many countries' sustainable
human settlements needs;
25.
Recognize that domestic resource mobilization as well as sound
national policies are crucial for financing shelter and human
settlements. Although Governments have the primary responsibility
for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, international
support is likewise essential. We regret that international
cooperation in shelter and human settlements development has
not been enhanced significantly since 1996, which is a growing
cause for concern. We also regret that many countries have
been unable to make sufficient use of market mechanisms in
support of their financial needs for shelter and human settlements
development;
26.
Recognize that there is unequal access to information and
communication technologies, particularly in the developing
countries, which has resulted in the inability of Governments
and Habitat Agenda partners to make the best use of this resource
in implementing the Habitat Agenda;
27.
Further resolve to take concerted action against international
terrorism, which causes serious obstacles to the implementation
of the Habitat Agenda;
28.
Recognize that the consequences of these gaps and obstacles
are serious: for the first time in human history a majority
of the world's six billion people will live in cities. Many
people have experienced a deterioration, not an improvement,
in their living environment. The gaps and obstacles encountered
in the past five years have slowed down global progress towards
sustainable human settlements development. It is essential
that actions are taken to ensure that the Habitat Agenda is
now translated into policy and into practice in every country;
D Taking further actions
29. Affirm our commitment to overcoming obstacles encountered
in implementing the Habitat Agenda, especially poverty, which
we consider to be the major underlying factor, and to strengthening
and safeguarding national and international enabling environments,
and to this end pledge to accelerate our efforts to ensure
the full and effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda.
Determined to give new momentum to our efforts to improve
the human settlements condition, we here set out further initiatives
for achieving those ends. At the start of the new millennium,
aware of our responsibilities towards future generations,
we are strongly committed to adequate shelter for all and
sustainable human settlements development in a urbanizing
world. We invite people from all countries and from all walks
of life, as well as the international community, to join in
renewed dedication to our shared vision for a more just and
equitable world;
30.
Reaffirm that the family is the basic unit of society and
as such should be strengthened. It is entitled to receive
comprehensive protection and support. In different cultural,
political and social systems, various forms of the family
exist. Marriage must be entered into with the free consent
of the intending spouses, and husband and wife should be equal
partners. The rights, capabilities and responsibilities of
family members must be respected. Human settlements planning
should take into account the constructive role of the family
in the design, development and management of such settlements.
Society should facilitate, as appropriate, all necessary conditions
for its integration, reunification, preservation, improvement
and protection within adequate shelter and with access to
basic services and a sustainable livelihood;[Report
of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat
II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication,
Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II, para.
31.]
31.
Resolve in the framework inter alia of a poverty eradication
strategy to encourage social and economic policies that are
designed to meet the housing needs of families and their individual
members, with particular attention to the care of children;[
Ibid., para. 40 (k).]
32.
Also resolve to promote changes in attitudes, structures,
policies, laws and other practices relating to gender in order
to eliminate all obstacles to human dignity and equality in
family and society and to promote full and equal participation
of women and men, inter alia, in the formulation, implementation
and follow-up of public policies and programmes;[ Ibid.,
para. 119 (e).]
33.
Invite Governments, the United Nations and other international
organizations to strengthen the quality and consistency of
their support to poverty eradication and sustainable human
settlements development, in particular to the least developed
countries. This in turn requires not only renewed political
will, but also the mobilization and allocation of new and
additional resources at both the national and international
levels. We urge the strengthening of international assistance
to developing countries in their efforts to alleviate poverty,
including by creating an enabling environment that would facilitate
the integration of developing countries into the world economy,
improving their market access, facilitating the flow of financial
resources and implementing fully and effectively all initiatives
already launched regarding debt relief;
34.
Emphasize that the international community should consider
further measures, as appropriate, that would lead to durable
solutions to the external debt burden of developing countries;
35.
In this connection, express our appreciation to the developed
countries that have agreed to and have reached the target
of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall
official development assistance, and call upon developed countries
that have not yet done so to strengthen their efforts to achieve
the agreed target of 0.7 per cent as soon as possible and,
where agreed, within that target, to earmark 0.15 per cent
to 0.20 per cent of the gross national product for the least
developed countries;
36.
Request the international community to strongly support poverty
eradication, and welcome the ongoing consultations by the
Secretary-General on the establishment of a world solidarity
fund for poverty eradication to finance and realize, inter
alia, the social policies and programmes of the Habitat Agenda
to address challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable
development in developing countries, especially the least
developed countries, bearing in mind the voluntary nature
of the contributions;
37.
Resolve to raise awareness about human settlements challenges
and solutions through full and open dissemination of information
and commit ourselves to renew and foster political will at
all levels;
38.
Also resolve to empower the poor and vulnerable, inter alia
through promoting greater security of tenure and enabling
better access to information and good practices, including
awareness of legal rights. We aim to develop specific policies
for overcoming growing urban poverty;
39.
Further resolve to empower local authorities, non-governmental
organizations and other Habitat Agenda partners, within the
legal framework and according to the conditions of each country,
to play a more effective role in shelter provision and in
sustainable human settlements development. This can be achieved
through effective decentralization, where appropriate, of
responsibilities, policy management, decision-making authority
and sufficient resources, where possible including revenue-collection
authority to local authorities, through participation and
local democracy as well as through international cooperation
and partnerships. In particular, the effective role of women
in decision-making in local authorities should be ensured,
if necessary through appropriate mechanisms. In this context
we agree to intensify our dialogue, where possible, including,
inter alia, through the Commission on Human Settlements on
all issues related to effective decentralization and strengthening
of local authorities, in support of the implementation of
the Habitat Agenda, in conformity with the legal framework
and policies of each country;
40.
Encourage authorities within metropolitan areas to develop
mechanisms and to foster, as appropriate, legal, financial,
administrative, planning and coordination instruments in order
to achieve more equitable, ordered and functional cities;
41.
Resolve to build capacities and networks to enable all partners
to play an effective role in shelter and human settlements
development. The management of urbanization processes requires
strong and accountable public institutions able to provide
an effective framework in which everybody has access to basic
services. Capacity-building needs to be directed towards,
inter alia, supporting decentralization and participatory
urban management processes. We also pledge to strengthen the
institutions and legal frameworks that assist and allow broad-based
participation in decision-making and in the implementation
of human settlements strategies, policies and programmes;
42.
Acknowledge, value and support volunteer work and the work
of community-based organizations. Voluntary practices offer
an important contribution to the development of human settlements,
as they help to build strong, cohesive communities, as well
as to develop a sense of social solidarity, generating in
the process significant economic outputs;
43.
Are committed to improving prevention, preparedness, mitigation
and response capacities with the contribution of national
and international cooperation networks, in order to reduce
the vulnerability of human settlements to natural and human-made
disasters and to implement effective post-disaster programmes
for the affected human settlements, aimed, inter alia, at
meeting immediate needs, reducing future disaster risks and
making rebuilt human settlements accessible for all;
44.
Commit ourselves to the goal of gender equality in human settlements
development and resolve to promote gender equality and the
empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty and
to stimulate the development of human settlements that are
truly sustainable. We further commit ourselves to formulating
and strengthening policies and practices to promote the full
and equal participation of women in human settlements planning
and decision-making;
45.
Also commit ourselves to strengthening existing financial
mechanisms and identifying and developing appropriate innovative
approaches for financing shelter and human settlements development
at all levels. Furthermore, we resolve to continue to undertake
legislative and administrative reforms to give women full
and equal access to economic resources, including the right
to inheritance and the ownership of land and other property,
credit, natural resources and appropriate technologies, as
well as ensuring their right to security of tenure and to
enter into contractual agreements. We resolve to promote increased
and equal access for all people to open, efficient, effective
and appropriate housing finance, to support savings mechanisms
in the informal sector, where appropriate, and to strengthen
regulatory and legal frameworks and financial management capacity
at all appropriate levels;
46.
Resolve to promote the upgrading of slums and regularization
of squatter settlements, within the legal framework of each
country. In particular, we reiterate the aim of the Cities
without Slums initiatives to make a significant improvement
in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020;
47.
Affirm that, in the interest of affordable housing for the
poor, it is necessary to promote cooperation among countries
for popularizing the use of adequate low-cost and sustainable
building materials and appropriate technology for the construction
of adequate low-cost houses and services within the reach
of the poor, especially in slums and unplanned settlements;
48.
Resolve to intensify efforts to include countries with economies
in transition in the system of multilateral cooperation in
sustainable development of human settlements, by developing
the support for these countries to determine an adequate level
of decentralization in the governance of urban and rural human
settlements. We reiterate our commitment to involve in these
efforts the United Nations financial institutions, international
and national foundations, the private sector and other partners
of the Habitat Agenda;
49.
Take note with satisfaction of the ongoing housing policy
formulation by many countries. We resolve to undertake legislative
and administrative reforms needed to support the efforts of
people, individually and collectively, to produce affordable
shelter, to adopt proactive planning of land supply, to promote
the efficient functioning of land markets and administration,
to eradicate legal and social barriers to the equal and equitable
access to land and to ensure that the equal rights of women
and men to land and property are protected under the law.
In implementing the above, we acknowledge the need for vigorously
promoting affordable shelter and basic services for the homeless,
preventing forced evictions that are contrary to the law and
facilitating access of all people, particularly the poor and
vulnerable groups, to information on housing legislation,
including any legal rights, and to remedies where these laws
are violated. In this connection, we note with appreciation
and support the initial approach and activities of the Global
Campaign for Secure Tenure;
50.
See the implementation of the Habitat Agenda as an integral
part of the overall fight for the eradication of poverty.
The implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the pursuit of
sustainable development are intimately linked and interdependent,
and human settlements development is a key factor for sustainable
development. The World Summit for Sustainable Development
to be held at Johannesburg in 2002 provides a good opportunity
to further pursue and intensify this relationship;
51.
Resolve to intensify efforts for ensuring transparent, responsible,
accountable, just, effective and efficient governance of cities
and other human settlements. We recognize that good governance,
within each country and at the international level, is essential
to addressing the challenge of urban poverty as well as the
challenge of environmental degradation and to harnessing the
potential opportunities offered by globalization. Cities need
specific approaches and methodologies to improve governance,
to plan and act strategically in order to reduce urban poverty
and social exclusion and to improve the economic and social
status of all citizens and protect the environment in a sustainable
way. In connection with this, we note the importance of promoting
sustainable livelihoods through education and training, particularly
for the poor and vulnerable groups;
52.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has developed in a much faster and much
more dramatic way than could have been foreseen at Istanbul.
We resolve to intensify efforts at the international and national
levels against HIV/AIDS and in particular to formulate and
implement appropriate policies and actions to address the
impact of HIV/AIDS on human settlements. We recognize the
problem of accessing financial resources for housing by HIV/AIDS
victims and the need for shelter solutions for accommodating
HIV/AIDS victims, especially the orphans and the terminally
ill;
53.
Resolve to intensify efforts to enhance the role of youth
and civil society, and to increase cooperation with parliamentarians
in human settlements development;
54.
Also resolve to promote more determined action against urban
crime and violence, particularly violence against women, children
and the elderly, through a coordinated response at all levels,
in accordance, as appropriate, with integrated crime prevention
action plans. These plans might include a diagnostic survey
of crime phenomena, the identification of all the relevant
actors in crime prevention and the fight against crime, the
establishment of consultation mechanisms for the design of
a coherent strategy and the elaboration of possible solutions
to these problems;
55.
Further resolve to seriously address the challenges posed
by wars, conflicts, refugees and human-made disasters on human
settlements, and commit ourselves through enhanced international
cooperation mechanisms to support post-conflict and post-disaster
countries, with special emphasis on the provision of shelter
and other basic services, particularly to vulnerable groups,
refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as to facilitate
restoring security of tenure and property rights;
56.
Resolve to take further effective measures to remove obstacles
to the full implementation of the Habitat Agenda as well as
obstacles to the realization of the rights of the peoples
living under colonial and foreign occupation, which are incompatible
with the dignity and worth of the human person and must be
combated and eliminated;
57.
Also resolve to expand and strengthen the protection of civilians
in conformity with international humanitarian law, in particular
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949, including article
49 thereof;[United Nations, Treaty Series,
vol. 75, No. 973.]
58.
Resolve to strengthen international cooperation, including
the burden sharing in, and the coordination of humanitarian
assistance to, countries hosting refugees and to help all
refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily to their
homes, in safety and dignity, and to be smoothly reintegrated
in their societies;
59.
Resolve to promote access to safe drinking water for all and
to facilitate the provision of basic infrastructure and urban
services, including adequate sanitation, waste management
and sustainable transport which is integrated and accessible
to all, including people with disabilities. To this end, we
need to promote transparent and accountable management of
public services as well as partnerships with the private sector
and non-profit organizations for the delivery of these services;
60.
Commit ourselves to intensifying efforts for improving sustainable
environmental planning and management practices, and for promoting
sustainable production and consumption patterns in human settlements
in all countries, in particular in industrialized countries.
Integrated approaches addressing social, economic and environmental
issues should be taken more systematically at all levels.
Agenda 21 and the local Agenda 21 initiatives provide important
inputs to this process;
61.
Reiterate the need to integrate the local Agenda 21 process,
as mentioned above, in the global plan of action for the implementation
of the Habitat Agenda. The aims, policies and strategies of
both agendas should be harmonized in order to promote sustainable
urban planning and management;
62.
Also reiterate that Governments, local authorities and other
Habitat Agenda partners should regularly monitor and evaluate
their own performances, and in the implementation of the Habitat
Agenda Governments at all levels should identify and disseminate
best practices and apply shelter and human settlements development
indicators. To this end, we need to strengthen the capacity
among all Habitat Agenda partners to handle and analyse information
as well as to communicate with each other;
63.
A further goal is to translate best practices into policies
and permit their replication. In this respect, the international
community should ensure the effective formatting and dissemination
of proven best practices and policies;
64.
Recognizing that those living in poverty are in fact rich
in innovative faculties and the importance of microcredit
in eradicating poverty and improving human settlements, and
following success stories of some countries in this field,
we encourage Governments, within their legal framework, and
both national and international financial institutions to
strengthen the institutional frameworks by which it would
be possible to extend microcredit to those living in poverty,
particularly the women, without collateral or security;
65.
Reiterate that international cooperation takes on added significance
and importance in the light of recent trends towards the increased
globalization and interdependence of the world economy. There
is a need for the political will of all States and for specific
action at the international level, including among cities,
to inspire, encourage and strengthen existing and innovative
forms of cooperation and partnership, coordination at all
levels and increased investment from all sources, including
the private sector, in order to contribute effectively to
the improvement of shelter conditions, especially in developing
countries. In this regard we also resolve to pay particular
attention to cities and other human settlements in critical
natural environments such as arid and semi-arid areas with
the purpose of providing assistance and support for their
development;
66.
Reconfirm the role of the Commission on Human Settlements
and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)
in advocating, promoting, monitoring and assessing progress
made in implementing the goals of adequate shelter for all
through providing legal security of tenure and sustainable
human settlements development in all countries and in combining
best practices, enabling policies, and compiling legislation
and action plans for identifying illustrative cities for the
two global campaigns and further advancing the normative[The
term "norm" refers to generally accepted standards,
guidelines or principles, and should not be understood to
imply that they are intended to be implemented through binding
legal instruments.
] debate and operational action on major human settlements
issues, inter alia, by timely and regular publication of global
flagship reports. We also support the establishment of the
Habitat Agenda Task Manager System, designed to allow better
monitoring and mutual reinforcement of actions taken by international
agencies in support of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda;
67.
Reaffirm our commitment to international cooperation as an
essential element to implement the Istanbul Declaration and
the Habitat Agenda. In this regard, we invite the Secretary-General
to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session
on options for reviewing and strengthening the mandate and
status of the Commission on Human Settlements and the status,
role and function of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
(Habitat), in accordance with the relevant decisions of the
General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the
Habitat II Conference;[General Assembly resolutions
51/177 of 16 December 1996 and 53/242 of 28 July 1999, the
agreed conclusions of the coordination segment of the Economic
and Social Council of 2000 (Official Records of the General
Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/55/3/Rev.1),
chap. V), and paras. 224 and 229 of the Habitat Agenda.]
68.
Agree to regularly review further implementation of the Habitat
Agenda with a view to assessing progress and considering new
initiatives.
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