HABITAT II : Second UN Conference on Human Settlements and Expected Benefits for Turkey

The Second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) met in Istanbul, Turkey from 3-14 June 1996. Participants considered issues of sustainable human settlements. General statements on the state of human settlements were offered. A High-Level Segment from 12-14 June allowed world leaders to commit to making cities sustainable.

The conference and its preparations were organized in several committees:

Committee I:
It negotiated the Habitat Agenda: Goals and Principles, Commitments and Global Plan of Action.

Committee II:
This committee conducted hearings on the role and contribution of local authorities, the private sector, parliamentarians, NGOs and other partners.


A BRIEF HISTORY OF HABITAT II

The Second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) met on the 20th anniversary of the first Habitat Conference in Vancouver, Canada. The Secretary-General of the Conference was Dr. Wally N^RDow.

The objectives for Habitat II are:

  1. In the long term, to arrest the deterioration of global human settlement conditions and ultimately create the conditions for achieving improvements in the living environment of all people on a sustainable basis, with special attention to the needs and contributions of women and vulnerable social groups; and

  2. To adopt a general statement of principles and commitments and formulate a related Global Plan of Action capable of guiding national and international efforts through the first two decades of the next century.


PREPARATIONS FOR HABITAT II

ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION

The organizational session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for Habitat II was held at UN Headquarters in New York from 3-5 March 1993. Delegates elected the Bureau and took decisions regarding the organization and timing of the process.

PREPCOM I

The first substantive session of the PrepCom was held in Geneva from 11-22 April 1994. Delegates agreed that the overriding objective of the Conference should be to increase global awareness of the problems and potentials of human settlements and to commit the world^Rs leaders to making cities, towns and villages healthy, safe, just and sustainable. The PrepCom also took decisions on the organization of the Conference and financing.

PREPCOM II

The second session of the PrepCom met in Nairobi, Kenya, from 24 April-5 May 1995. The Committee considered organizational matters for PrepCom III and the Conference itself; prepared the first part of the draft Statement of Principles and Commitments and the Global Plan of Action (GPA); and prepared draft decisions for consideration by the 50th General Assembly.

INTERSESSIONAL DRAFTING GROUP

The 17-member Informal Drafting Group (IDG) included governmental, local government and NGO representatives. It was charged with preparing the documentation for PrepCom III. The first meeting from 17-21 July 1995 was held in Nairobi, where the fourth part of the GPA dealing with strategies for implementation was drafted.

The IDG draft focused on:

The second meeting of the IDG met in Paris from 9-14 October 1995. Delegates reviewed the revised draft and made progress on the text, but deferred a number of matters to PrepCom III, including the principle that deals with the family. The IDG did not submit a draft text on some points, including international financial assistance, housing rights and institutional follow-up.

PREPCOM III

The third session of the PrepCom met at UN Headquarters in New York from 5-16 February 1996.

Organizational questions included:

  1. Participation of NGOs
  2. The implementation of Rule 61 to facilitate input from local authorities
  3. Financial resources.

Negotiations were made on the draft Statement of Principles and Commitments and the GPA. Key issues included the "right to housing" and the role of UNCHS in Habitat follow-up. A text went forward to Istanbul.


PRE-CONFERENCE CONSULTATIONS

Delegates met from 1-2 June 1996 for pre-conference consultations, chaired by Huseyin Celem, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN. They made recommendations for the Conference.


HABITAT II OPENING PLENARY IN ISTANBUL

Habitat was opened by UN Secretary-General BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI. He noted that the recent series of UN conferences have shaped an agenda for development. They are crucial for the determination of the future of life on the planet. Innovative aspects of the conference include the range of partners that have been included in the process and the Best Practices initiative, demonstrating our capacity to renew our societies.

SULEYMAN DEMIREL, President of Turkey, was elected as President of the Conference.

He stated: "The Habitat Conference will generate innovative strategies that reinforce the importance of human development within the larger sustainable development agenda. We cannot afford to let the remarkable achievements of preceding conferences fail due to political and financial obstacles. Habitat II is an all-encompassing conference on humankind, and as the last of the UN conferences of this century, it must incorporate and supplement the successes of prior meetings to achieve a better quality of life for all in the 21st century."

Delegates adopted the rules of procedure (A/CONF.165/2) and the agenda and other organizational matters (A/CONF.165/1).

Emre Gonensay, Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, was elected Vice-President and Ricardo Gorosito (Uruguay) Rapporteur-General. Shafqat Kakakhel (Pakistan) was elected to chair Committee I (Habitat Agenda) and Martti Lujanen (Finland) to chair Committee II (role of partners). Among committee members were: China, Luxembourg, Mali, the Marshall Islands, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the US and Venezuela.

Delegates agreed to pre-conference recommendations regarding accreditation of international associations of local authorities (A/CONF.165/6 and Add.1) and NGOs (A/CONF.165/5 and Add. 1 and 2). GREECE noted reservations to the accreditation of the West Thrace Turks and TURKEY noted reservations to the non-accreditation of three Turkish Cypriot organizations.


VIEWS

Delegates began the general exchange of views. They focused on the state of human settlements and strategies for implementation.

Secretary-General of the Conference WALLY N^RDOW expressed his gratitude to the city of Istanbul, its leaders and all involved in preparations. He highlighted the importance of Habitat II in beginning new pathways for the future of humanity. He added: "The great task that lies before us is to shine the spotlight of awareness and commitment wherever people exist in the shadow of despair. A new global contract for building sustainable societies is being constructed and must reflect the context of increasing globalization and the importance of non-state actors".

Issues considered at Habitat are relevant at the local level, so partnerships between governments and local authorities and other non-state actors are essential for implementation of the Habitat Agenda. The hearings of Committee II provide a platform for these actors. The Best Practices initiative provides an opportunity to share strategies that will help bring about the commitments needed to resolve human settlements problems.

COSTA RICA acted on behalf of the countries of G-77/China. It stated that the eradication of homelessness must receive the highest priority and Habitat II should consolidate the right to housing. The G-77/China submitted a proposal for an Istanbul Declaration. Habitat II must strengthen the existing mechanisms for coordination among nations, including the UNCHS. In addition, substantial financial resources should be mobilized.

ITALY represented European Union. Italy noted that the primary arena for action is the local level. He called for increased attention to the needs of people living in poverty. He stated the importance of rural and urban linkages and added that national and international follow-up should be complementary. Then speaking on behalf of Italy, he noted that land planning policies would be reviewed and that they are preparing Rome for the jubilee in 2000.

COLOMBIA spoke on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement: "The right to housing should be a fundamental principle of the Habitat Agenda, because it is a fundamental human right. While action and policy implementation at the national level is most important, an international effort is needed. This can be advanced by creating a favorable international economic environment. Developed countries should assist developing countries by providing new financial resources, technical assistance and information on available technology. The non-aligned countries affirm their commitment to full implementation of the Habitat Agenda and to working within a framework of broad participation."

TURKEY stated that adequate shelter is integral to the right to an adequate standard of living. Turkey has implemented successful initiatives to keep pace with the growing demand for housing. The construction and building materials sectors have been developed significantly and financed effectively. Improving administrative support and investing in infrastructure for medium-sized cities have become policy priorities to counter the exodus from rural to urban areas. The Turkish government places particular importance on the education of children so the next generation will have a greater appreciation of environmental problems. Turkey is part of a wide-reaching regional initiative that is cooperating to develop strategies for human settlements and urban areas.

The US stated that Habitat II must continue to emphasize the sustainable development process that the world embraced in Rio. He stressed the definition of sustainable development used in Copenhagen at the World Summit for Social Development, which included economic growth, environmental protection and social development. He reaffirmed that the existence of a right to adequate housing is a component of existing rights.

CHINA stated that access to adequate housing is the most fundamental of all human rights. Economic growth and poverty eradication are key to solving human settlements problems. Governments at all levels should harmonize efforts to integrate the environment, human settlements development and population growth. Rural and urban areas should be given equal emphasis in human settlements development. Effective international cooperation is essential to solving human settlements problems and the UN must play a significant role in its coordination. China^Rs urban development policy consists of strategies to control the size of large cities, actively improve small and medium-sized cities and improve countryside settlements.

COMMITTEE II met and discussed these topics:

  1. Local authorities as partners in implementing the Habitat Agenda
  2. Local Agenda 21s
  3. Democratization and decentralization
  4. Modernization and application of technology
  5. Unified local authorities and the UN as partners.


BENEFITS OF TURKEY AND ITS NGO^Rs

In Rotterdam in March 1996, 102 Best Practices were selected out of 600 submissions. Three projects from Turkey were chosen:

  1. Batikent Project, Ankara (Kent-Koop)
    Trade Unions, Trade Associations and Metropolitan Municipality of Ankara Civil and democratic participation in Kent-Koop

  2. Implementation of Collective Housing Settlement Projects, Ankara
    TURKKONUT, Central Union of Construction Cooperatives with membership of 1200 cooperatives

  3. Prime Ministry Housing Development Administration
    Developed 34000 Housing Units in Ankara, Istanbul, Kocaeli Planning 367,000 units in 16 provinces

Turkey will very much benefit from Habitat II primarily because of its extensive participation with many governmental and non-governmental agencies this year. The decided goals and principles, commitments and the Global Plan of Action for human settlements were of utmost importance. Roles and contributions of local authorities, the private sector, parliamentarians, NGOs and other partners were clearly identified for all participants.

These guidelines will aid Turkey to create the conditions for achieving improvements in the living environment of all people on a sustainable basis, with special attention to the needs and contributions of women and vulnerable social groups.

The Global Plan of Action of HABITAT II will help Turkey in guiding efforts through the next few decades of the next century.


Derleyen: Oguz Alpoge (ITU Elektrik '73) <alpogeo@aol.com>


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