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| UN Conference on Human Settlements | |
|---|---|
| Name | UN Conference on Human Settlements |
| Other names | Habitat Conference, UN-Habitat Summits |
| Formed | 1976 |
| Predecessor | United Nations General Assembly resolution processes |
| Jurisdiction | United Nations |
| Headquarters | Nairobi |
| Parent agency | United Nations Human Settlements Programme |
UN Conference on Human Settlements is the United Nations' primary series of global gatherings addressing urbanization and housing within the framework of international policy. Originating in the 1970s alongside initiatives by the United Nations General Assembly, UN-Habitat, and the United Nations Environment Programme, the conferences have convened states, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and civil society to negotiate principles impacting sustainable development and human rights. The process links multilateral diplomacy with normative instruments used by bodies such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme.
The Conference emerged from postwar multilateral discussions involving the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and specialized agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, and the International Labour Organization. Early antecedents included multilateral meetings tied to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and the Stockholm Conference, which influenced later deliberations alongside delegations from the Non-Aligned Movement, the European Economic Community, and the Organization of African Unity. Founding documents drew on legal principles codified by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, decisions of the International Court of Justice, and resolutions from the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements.
Notable gatherings include the inaugural 1976 conference hosted as part of initiatives by the United Nations General Assembly, landmark follow-ups such as the 1996 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul which involved actors from the Commission on Sustainable Development, the 2001 preparatory committees associated with the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and the 2016 UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito. These summits attracted participants from the European Union, the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and city networks like United Cities and Local Governments and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, alongside finance institutions such as the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Conferences consistently prioritized access to housing in relation to sustainable development goals, urban infrastructure, and resilience to hazards addressed by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Thematic priorities integrated concerns from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, while engaging stakeholders from the Private Sector Advisory Group, philanthropic foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and research institutions including the International Institute for Environment and Development.
The Conference process has been organized through the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and preparatory committees involving Member States, mayors and municipal representatives from organizations such as the United Cities and Local Governments, international NGOs like Habitat for Humanity, academic partners including United Nations University, and multilateral lenders such as the World Bank Group. Participation has spanned representatives from Brazil, China, India, United States, South Africa, and networks like the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Major outcomes include the adoption of normative documents comparable to the Habitat Agenda, the integration of urban targets into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and declarations that influenced instruments such as the New Urban Agenda and policy frameworks endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. Agreements shaped national policies in countries like Kenya, Colombia, and Canada and guided programmatic funding by institutions including the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank.
Implementation mechanisms have involved UN entities such as UN-Habitat, coordination with the United Nations Development Programme, technical assistance from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and partnerships with financing bodies including the International Finance Corporation and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Programmatic work spans slum upgrading projects executed with municipal authorities, capacity-building with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and data initiatives coordinated with agencies like the United Nations Statistics Division and research partners such as the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Critiques have focused on perceived gaps between summit declarations and implementation, contested roles of multilateral lenders such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and debates over land tenure policies highlighted in litigation before the International Court of Justice and adjudication in domestic courts of South Africa and India. Civil society networks including Slum/Shack Dwellers International and academic commentators from institutions like the London School of Economics and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have argued about accountability, financing modalities, and the influence of private sector actors including multinational developers and investors from markets such as China and the United States.
Category:United Nations conferences Category:Urban planning Category:International development