Daily report for 5 June 1996

Delegates to Habitat II heard presentations on the state of human settlements andimprovement strategies, a core theme of the Conference, during Plenary. Working GroupsI and II continued negotiations on the draft Habitat Agenda, and drafting groups on theIstanbul Declaration and the “right to housing” met for the first time. Committee II heardpresentations from representatives of the World Business Forum and the FoundationsForum.

WORKING GROUP I

CHAPTER I. PREAMBLE

In 9quinquiens (women and sustainable development), the US andCANADA strongly recommended retention of “gender discrimination.” The G-77/CHINA conceded. CANADA and the US proposed a new 9sesregarding older and disabled persons.

In 10 (enabling and partnerships), CANADA replaced “and” with “in particular”for people living in poverty. The CHAIR proposed to replace “members of” with “thosebelonging to” vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. The G-77/CHINA, supported by theARAB COUNTRIES GROUP, proposed removing the brackets around10bis (economic growth and sustainable development). The EU, supportedby the US, proposed deleting language regarding the roots of human settlements problemsand deleting “sustained economic growth.” The US added “national” to internationalframeworks. NORWAY added “inequitable distribution of power.” NGOs (Women’sCaucus) proposed “inequitable distribution of power and resources.” Groups proposingadditions convened later to merge their proposals.

Delegates sent Paragraph 11 (international institutional arrangements) to WorkingGroup II.

CHAPTER II. GOALS AND PRINCIPLES

Paragraph 13 (guided by the UN Charter) was deferred pending discussionby the Drafting Group on a “right to housing.” In 14 (equitable humansettlements), delegates removed the reference to “the right to inheritance” from bracketsafter the CHAIR indicated that it came from the Beijing Platform For Action.

In 16 (sustainable development), the US and CANADA drew attention torelevant language from Principle 6 of the Rio Declaration. Delegates agreed to areformulation by the CHAIR indicating that sustainable development gives fullconsideration to the needs and necessities of achieving economic growth, socialdevelopment and environmental protection and calling for special consideration to be“given to the specific situation and needs of developing countries and, as appropriate, ofthe countries with economies in transition.” MEXICO replaced “protection andsustainable use” with “maintenance” of biodiversity in the final sentence, to which the USadded “conservation” and CANADA added a reference to forests. The CHAIR deferredthis sentence for further consultation.

In 17 (design and management of settlements), bracketed language regardingpreservation of historical structures was reformulated with contributions by NORWAY,CANADA, the US, the EU and the G-77/CHINA to read “preservation of natural heritageand historical human settlements, including sites, monuments and buildings, particularlythose protected under the World Heritage Convention, should be assisted, includingthrough international cooperation.”

In 18 (family), the G-77/CHINA wanted to delete the bracketed reference to“various forms of the family exist.” The EU, supported by NORWAY and BRAZIL, saidthe reference is the agreed language of the WSSD and other UN conferences. The CHAIRrequested informal consultations and said a vote is likely given the strong feelings.MALTA said reopening this issue could derail the entire conference. BRAZIL said there isno common G-77/CHINA position.

The first sentence of 21 (solidarity) was reformulated to read: “solidarity withthose belonging to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, including people living inpoverty.” Paragraphs 22 and 22bis (international cooperation)were deferred to Working Group II. The US, supported by CANADA, proposed aprinciple to address education and health care. NGOs recommended inclusion of aprinciple that emphasizes environmental health. The Group postponed negotiation ofChapter III (Commitments) and commenced consideration of Chapter IV (GPA).

CHAPTER IV. GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION

A. Introduction: The G-77/CHINA suggested that discussion on 38(globalization) be re-opened. GUATEMALA added language on the disintegration of thefamily. The EU added reference to human rights violations. An informal group wasformed. Delegates expressed concern regarding the proliferation of small working groups.

In 39 (local participation), the G-77/CHINA noted that “stakeholders” did nottranslate well into Spanish and French and sought a substitute, but the US and CANADAopposed changing the term.

In 42 (enablement), the G-77/CHINA substituted bracketed text (“sustainabledevelopment, including sustained growth”) with “sustained economic growth andsustainable development.” NORWAY, supported by the US, CANADA and NEWZEALAND, proposed: “sustainable economic growth in the context of sustainabledevelopment.” The EU proposed “sustainable development.”

B. Adequate shelter for all: In 51(b) (sustained economic growth andsustainable development principles), the EU, supported by the G-77/CHINA, proposeddeleting the brackets from the entire paragraph but the US opposed.

In 54(e) (women’s access to resources), the G-77/CHINA added a reference toundertaking legislative reform. Delegates agreed to use related text on administrative andlegislative reform from the Beijing Platform for Action. In 54(e)bis(community-based production of housing), TURKEY wanted a reference toencouraging self-built housing in “authorized ways.” The US said existing language didnot condone illegal settlements. MOROCCO proposed a new subparagraph 54(g)on the control of spontaneous human settlements involving unsanitary, unregulatedhousing through integrated habitat programs that are preventive.

WORKING GROUP II

E. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND COORDINATION

1. Introduction: In 144 (current international economic situation), MEXICOproposed that the formulation of strategies at the national and local levels be “within thelegal framework of each country.” The EU replaced the reference to an “overall decline”in official development assistance (ODA) with the “recent downward trend,” but the G-77/CHINA objected. Delegates added text noting that “in some countries” this decline inODA has been accompanied by increased private sector flows. Delegates added referencesto “bilateral assistance agencies” (EU) and “private sector” (AUSTRALIA) roles inproviding additional resources.

In 144bis (globalization of the world economy and developing countrydeterioration), the G-77/CHINA said the existing paragraph, which notes problems withpoverty, urbanization and economic stagnation, reflects the developing countries’ analysisof their current situation. ZAMBIA, SUDAN, NIGERIA, TANZANIA, ZIMBABWE andSENEGAL supported retaining the paragraph as is. The EU proposed language from theAgenda for Development that notes the opportunities and challenges that globalizationpresents, because the paragraph concentrates only on negative aspects. The US saidagreement on the Agenda for Development is not final and opposed borrowing itslanguage. He agreed to the EU proposal with the understanding that the language reflectsthe resolution on the New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 90’s (NADAF).

In 145 (innovative approaches), delegates added references to cooperationbetween and among countries (G-77/CHINA), bilateral assistance agencies (EU) andthrough triangular exchanges (JAPAN). In 145bis (new forms ofcooperation), the G-77/CHINA circulated a re-draft that deleted the references to:cooperation between multilateral and bilateral assistance agencies and civil societyorganizations and local authorities; and the right for local authorities to devote their ownresources to develop international relations. The G-77/CHINA and Local Authorities wereto consult on the text.

In 145ter (international migration), the US added International Conferenceon Population and Development (ICPD) text noting factors affecting internationalmigration, including international economic imbalances, poverty, environmentaldegradation, the absence of security, and human rights violations. Canada added ICPDtext noting positive aspects of migration. The G-77/CHINA stressed the need for abalanced text.

2. An Enabling International Context: On 146 (enabling internationalcontext), the G-77/CHINA proposed removing brackets from language that recognizedthe housing sectors and stated that goals of sustainable human settlements developmentdepend on fair and durable solutions to issues of finance, debt, trade and transfer oftechnology. AUSTRALIA said the goals do not “depend” on these solutions, and thegroup later accepted “are facilitated by.” The US said the problems cited were very broadand opposed stating that the goals depend on their resolution. The US, AUSTRALIA, theEU and the G-77/CHINA convened a drafting group.

In 147(b) (coordination of macroeconomic policies), the US offered a number ofalternatives to the reference to “sustained economic growth and sustainable development.”The text was bracketed pending consideration of all related references.

Subparagraph 147(e) notes enterprise development in the context of an open,transparent international trading system. A reference to technologies for all people,especially those living in poverty and the least developed countries, was modified to note“access” to “appropriate” technologies and “know-how.”

IN THE DRAFTING GROUPS

The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration, chaired by Balkan Kazildeli (Turkey),met on Wednesday and agreed to begin considering the format of the Declaration. Talkswill continue Thursday.

Marcela Nicodemus (Brazil) chaired the Drafting Group on the “right to housing” in theafternoon, to consider relevant text in paragraphs 2bis, 9,13, 24 and 44. The group spent most of the session onprocedural matters, then began negotiations on 13. The Group determined thatthe text in 13 dealing with the right to adequate housing is the keylanguage to contend with first.

IN THE CORRIDORS

Delegates in both Working Groups decided on Wednesday to consider text related to“sustainable development” at the same time. Some observers note that references to“sustainable development” were first used in Rio and stood alone. The Rio packageincluded funding, however. Delegates and observers say positions changed when thefunding promises did not materialize. One NGO delegate has suggested that an importantfactor influencing positions on this issue is anticipation of the 1997 Special Session of theUN General Assembly to review implementation of Agenda 21. In this view, thestatements and decisions of Habitat II may set early markers for the future debate.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: The Plenary will meet during the morning in the Plenary Hall to hearstatements regarding the state of human settlements.

WORKING GROUP I: The Working Group is expected to meet during morning,afternoon and evening sessions in Conference Room 1.

WORKING GROUP II: The Working Group is expected to meet during themorning and afternoon in Conference Room 3. The Group is expected to begin withconsideration of paragraph 148 (actions the international community shouldtake).

DRAFTING GROUPS: The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration isexpected to meet during the morning and afternoon in Conference Room A. The DraftingGroup considering text related to the “right to housing” is expected to meet from 10:30am - 3:00 pm in Conference Room D.

COMMITTEE II: The Committee is expected to meet in Conference Room 2during the morning and afternoon to hold hearings involving representatives of theParliamentarians Forum and representatives of the Academies of Science and EngineeringForum.