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"City-to-City
Cooperation" is the theme for this year's World Habitat Day (WHD), which is
to be celebrated on 7 October, 2002. This year the global observances will be
held in Brussels, Belgium, and will be jointly hosted by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Government of Belgium and the European Commission.
Cities and local authorities have been fostering international cooperation
since the foundation of the first international association of local
authorities in 1913.Early exchange among cities in developed countries were
followed by links with cities in developing countries. In an increasingly
urbanizing world, this year's WHD theme is meant to encourage more city to
city cooperation or C2C as it is commonly known.
With over half
of the world's population now living in cities and towns, the United Nations
has prioritised sustainable urbanization. Earlier last year, at Istanbul + 5,
the Special Session of the General Assembly, Governments issued a Declaration
on Cities and other Human Settlements in the New Millennium which endorsed
the specific Millennium Declaration target of making a significant
improvement in the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020. The theme of
this year's World Habitat Day is dedicated to helping the world meet these
targets.
The United
Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is mandated by the UN
General Assembly to assist countries and communities to solve some of the
root causes of these problems through concerted action and policy
improvements in the human settlements sector. Every year, since 1985, when it
was designated by the General Assembly, World Habitat Day has been celebrated
on the first Monday of October. This day has been set aside by the United
Nations for the world to reflect on the state of human settlements and the
basic right to adequate shelter. This year Governments and local authorities
are called upon to hold observances to encourage greater awareness about the
need to improve our living environment through more City to City cooperation.
Bangladesh
World Habitat Day Ceremony
will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia as a chief guest.
Venue: Osmani Memorial Hall.
Date: 7-10-2002, Time: 11.30am. |