Summary
The Habitat III Informal Hearings with Local Authorities Associations opened on Monday, 16 May 2016, at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting brings together representatives of local and regional governments to exchange views with member states and observers on the recently submitted zero draft of the Habitat III outcome. The meeting was mandated by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2015 (A/RES/70/210).
In the morning the opening segment took place, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Habitat III Co-Chair Maryse Gautier, France, and Habitat III Secretary-General Joan Clos underscored that the Habitat III preparatory process is at a critical juncture with the launch of the zero-draft. They also noted that the Hearings represent the first time that an intergovernmental process provided a dedicated platform for local and regional governments to provide inputs into negotiations.
A panel on key recommendations for the Habitat III draft outcome document from a regional perspective then took place. Participants welcomed the opportunity for local and regional governments to engage in the Habitat III preparatory process. The panel discussed issues, including: sustainable urban development strategies used in their cities; stakeholder engagement, particularly women, youth and indigenous peoples; creation of institutional arrangements to codify local government participation; and decentralization.
In the afternoon, presentations were made by members of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments on transformative commitments for a sustainable urban development. Presentations addressed: aspects that should be added to the zero draft; the right to the city; cultural patrimony; the importance of planning; and stronger participation for local and regional governments in intergovernmental processes.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web updates from the from the Habitat III Informal Hearings with Local Authorities. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary report of this event, which is available in HTML and PDF format.
Opening Panel. L-R: Julián Castro, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, US; UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson; Habitat III Co-Chair Maryse Gautier, France; Co-Chair of the Habitat III Preparatory Committee María de los Ángeles Duarte, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ecuador; Movses Abelian, Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management; Habitat III Secretary-General Joan Clos; and Jacqueline Moustache-Belle, Mayor, Victoria, and President, Association of Districts of Victoria, Seychelles.
L-R: Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Municipal President, Municipal Council of Seberang Perai, Malaysia; Enrique Peñalosa Londoño, Mayor, Bogotá, Colombia; and Habitat III Deputy Secretary-General Kumaresh Misra
Habitat III Secretary-General Joan Clos
Habitat III Co-Chair Maryse Gautier, France, moderates the session on presentations by members of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments on transformative commitments for a sustainable urban development.