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| Milestones: Istanbul Declaration 1996 |
The Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements
of 1996 is a reaffirmation of the
Habitat Agenda
agreed separately at the Habitat II conference. It notably reaffirms
the commitment of world governments to better standards of living in
larger freedom for all humankind.
1. We, the Heads of State or Government and the official delegations
of countries assembled at the United Nations Conference on Human
Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul, Turkey from 3 to 14 June 1996,
take this opportunity to endorse the universal goals of ensuring
adequate shelter for all and making human settlements safer,
healthier and more liveable, equitable, sustainable and productive.
Our deliberations on the two major themes of the Conference -
adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements
development in an urbanizing world - have been inspired by the
Charter of the United Nations and are aimed at reaffirming existing
and forging new partnerships for action at the international,
national and local levels to improve our living environment. We
commit ourselves to the objectives, principles and recommendations
contained in the Habitat Agenda and pledge our mutual support for
its implementation.
2. We have considered, with a sense of urgency, the continuing
deterioration of conditions of shelter and human settlements. At the
same time, we recognize cities and towns as centres of civilization,
generating economic development and social, cultural, spiritual and
scientific advancement. We must take advantage of the opportunities
presented by our settlements and preserve their diversity to promote
solidarity among all our peoples.
3. We reaffirm our commitment to better standards of living in
larger freedom for all humankind. We recall the first United Nations
Conference on Human Settlements, held at Vancouver, Canada, the
celebration of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
and the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, all of which
have contributed to increased global awareness of the problems of
human settlements and called for action to achieve adequate shelter
for all. Recent United Nations world conferences, including, in
particular, the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, have given us a comprehensive agenda for the equitable
attainment of peace, justice and democracy built on economic
development, social development and environmental protection as
interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable
development. We have sought to integrate the outcomes of these
conferences into the Habitat Agenda.
4. To improve the quality of life within human settlements, we must
combat the deterioration of conditions that in most cases,
particularly in developing countries, have reached crisis
proportions. To this end, we must address comprehensively, inter
alia, unsustainable consumption and production patterns,
particularly in industrialized countries; unsustainable population
changes, including changes in structure and distribution, giving
priority consideration to the tendency towards excessive population
concentration; homelessness; increasing poverty; unemployment;
social exclusion; family instability; inadequate resources; lack of
basic infrastructure and services; lack of adequate planning;
growing insecurity and violence; environmental degradation; and
increased vulnerability to disasters.
5. The challenges of human settlements are global, but countries and
regions also face specific problems which need specific solutions.
We recognize the need to intensify our efforts and cooperation to
improve living conditions in the cities, towns and villages
throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, where
the situation is especially grave, and in countries with economies
in transition. In this connection, we acknowledge that globalization
of the world economy presents opportunities and challenges for the
development process, as well as risks and uncertainties, and that
achievement of the goals of the Habitat Agenda would be facilitated
by, inter alia, positive actions on the issues of financing of
development, external debt, international trade and transfer of
technology. Our cities must be places where human beings lead
fulfilling lives in dignity, good health, safety, happiness and
hope.
6. Rural and urban development are interdependent. In addition to
improving the urban habitat, we must also work to extend adequate
infrastructure, public services and employment opportunities to
rural areas in order to enhance their attractiveness, develop an
integrated network of settlements and minimize rural-to-urban
migration. Small- and medium-sized towns need special focus.
7. As human beings are at the centre of our concern for sustainable
development, they are the basis for our actions as in implementing
the Habitat Agenda. We recognize the particular needs of women,
children and youth for safe, healthy and secure living conditions.
We shall intensify our efforts to eradicate poverty and
discrimination, to promote and protect all human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all, and to provide for basic needs, such
as education, nutrition and life-span health care services, and,
especially, adequate shelter for all. To this end, we commit
ourselves to improving the living conditions in human settlements in
ways that are consonant with local needs and realities, and we
acknowledge the need to address the global, economic, social and
environmental trends to ensure the creation of better living
environments for all people. We shall also ensure the full and equal
participation of all women and men, and the effective participation
of youth, in political, economic and social life. We shall promote
full accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as gender
equality in policies, programmes and projects for shelter and
sustainable human settlements development. We make these commitments
with particular reference to the more than one billion people living
in absolute poverty and to the members of vulnerable and
disadvantaged groups identified in the Habitat Agenda.
8. We reaffirm our commitment to the full and progressive
realization of the right to adequate housing as provided for in
international instruments. To that end, we shall seek the active
participation of our public, private and non-governmental partners
at all levels to ensure legal security of tenure, protection from
discrimination and equal access to affordable, adequate housing for
all persons and their families.
9. We shall work to expand the supply of affordable housing by
enabling markets to perform efficiently and in a socially and
environmentally responsible manner, enhancing access to land and
credit and assisting those who are unable to participate in housing
markets.
10. In order to sustain our global environment and improve the
quality of living in our human settlements, we commit ourselves to
sustainable patterns of production, consumption, transportation and
settlements development; pollution prevention; respect for the
carrying capacity of ecosystems; and the preservation of
opportunities for future generations. In this connection, we shall
cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and
restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. In view
of different contributions to global environmental degradation, we
reaffirm the principle that countries have common but differentiated
responsibilities. We also recognize that we must take these actions
in a manner consistent with the precautionary principle approach,
which shall be widely applied according to the capabilities of
countries. We shall also promote healthy living environments,
especially through the provision of adequate quantities of safe
water and effective management of waste.
11. We shall promote the conservation, rehabilitation and
maintenance of buildings, monuments, open spaces, landscapes and
settlement patterns of historical, cultural, architectural, natural,
religious and spiritual value.
12. We adopt the enabling strategy and the principles of partnership
and participation as the most democratic and effective approach for
the realization of our commitments. Recognizing local authorities as
our closest partners, and as essential, in the implementation of the
Habitat Agenda, we must, within the legal framework of each country,
promote decentralization through democratic local authorities and
work to strengthen their financial and institutional capacities in
accordance with the conditions of countries, while ensuring their
transparency, accountability and responsiveness to the needs of
people, which are key requirements for Governments at all levels. We
shall also increase our cooperation with parliamentarians, the
private sector, labour unions and non-governmental and other civil
society organizations with due respect for their autonomy. We shall
also enhance the role of women and encourage socially and
environmentally responsible corporate investment by the private
sector. Local action should be guided and stimulated through local
programmes based on Agenda 21, the Habitat Agenda, or any other
equivalent programme, as well as drawing upon the experience of
worldwide cooperation initiated in Istanbul by the World Assembly of
Cities and Local Authorities, without prejudice to national
policies, objectives, priorities and programmes. The enabling
strategy includes a responsibility for Governments to implement
special measures for members of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups
when appropriate.
13. As the implementation of the Habitat Agenda will require
adequate funding, we must mobilize financial resources at the
national and international levels, including new and additional
resources from all sources - multilateral and bilateral, public and
private. In this connection, we must facilitate capacity-building
and promote the transfer of appropriate technology and know-how.
Furthermore, we reiterate the commitments set out in recent United
Nations conferences, especially those in Agenda 21 on funding and
technology transfer.
14. We believe that the full and effective implementation of the
Habitat Agenda will require the strengthening of the role and
functions of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
(Habitat), taking into account the need for the Centre to focus on
well-defined and thoroughly developed objectives and strategic
issues. To this end, we pledge our support for the successful
implementation of the Habitat Agenda and its global plan of action.
Regarding the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, we fully
recognize the contribution of the regional and national action plans
prepared for this Conference.
15. This Conference in Istanbul marks a new era of cooperation, an
era of a culture of solidarity. As we move into the twenty-first
century, we offer a positive vision of sustainable human
settlements, a sense of hope for our common future and an
exhortation to join a truly worthwhile and engaging challenge, that
of building together a world where everyone can live in a safe home
with the promise of a decent life of dignity, good health, safety,
happiness and hope.
Download
Full PDF Version of Istanbul Declaration
Download Full
Habitat Agenda
Source: http://www.unhabitat.org/declarations/Istanbul.asp |
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