Themes :: Special Message :: Information Material :: Press Kit :: Reports :: Data

   
   
 

"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.

   
 

WHD Home :: SDNP Home