Press Release
HAB/IST/19
AS DELIVERED HAB/IST/19
12 June 1996
SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI ADDRESSES
HIGH LEVEL SEGMENT OF HABITAT II
Following is the text of a statement made by Secretary-
General Boutros Boutros-Ghali at the opening of the High-Level
Segment of Habitat II, Istanbul, Turkey, 12 June:
It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to address
this meeting of distinguished world leaders, assembled here in
Istanbul. You have gathered to consider the course of action
the human race must take to prepare for a common future in the
twenty-first century.
From this Conference in Istanbul must emanate a message
that will endure long after Habitat II. The message that all
nations and peoples are working together as equal partners and
sharing responsibility for one world.
These are times of dramatic change. But there is also a
sense of opportunity and hope that a new world can be built.
That our goals of social progress and greater opportunity for
all humanity can be achieved.
These goals will have to be achieved in the cities, towns
and smaller settlements of a rapidly urbanizing world.
A global urban civilization will have a profound impact
on patterns of national and international development and
economic growth. We cannot ignore its implications for
natural resource use and environmental sustainability.
Such changes already are taking place, driven by
globalization and liberalization of the world economy, by
democratization and by the technological revolution.
Urbanization is not simply a demographic phenomenon. It is
changing relations between town and countryside. It is
changing the face of both cities and villages.
We must respond. We cannot go on as before. These
challenges are real. They must be addressed sooner rather
than later, in all countries. We will certainly stand a
greater chance of success if we face these changes together in
global partnership.
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Already, the mass exodus to cities has led to sharpened
urban poverty, especially among women and dependent children.
Scarcity of housing and basic services. Unemployment and
underemployment. Ethnic tensions and violence. Substance
abuse. Crime and social disintegration. The emergence of
giant megacities has brought land degradation, traffic
congestion, and air, water and soil pollution. All human
settlements, cities, towns and villages are under
unprecedented economic pressure.
But we must look towards these same human settlements for
economic growth and jobs for future generations. The world's
human settlements must, therefore, become sustainable,
productive, safe, healthy and humane.
This demands solutions and answers to some very hard
questions. How do we improve the governance and financing of
human settlements? Which policies can improve the living and
working conditions of the poor, of families and communities?
How can economic growth and employment opportunities be
greatly expanded in cities without long-term environmental
damage and waste of the planet's natural resources? How do we
provide both town and countryside with scarce resources? How
do we provide affordable housing and services to the world's
growing population?
These questions are not aimed only at the developing
South. Economic and social change casts a shadow over cities
in the industrialized North as well. Common problems demand a
common global agenda to address them.
We face a future for which the past is no guide. But
here in Istanbul, we have drawn a road map to that future. We
have taken bold steps. We have launched a new process for
world-wide partnership for sustainable human settlements in an
urbanizing world. By doing so, we also advance the
commitments made by the international community throughout the
cycle of landmark United Nations conferences which began at
the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
This Habitat Conference has been notable in many
respects. Two areas stand out: its strong emphasis on
alliance building and on innovative ideas.
No previously held United Nations conference has involved
the contributions of so many specialized constituencies of
stakeholders. Local authorities, businesses, non-governmental
organizations, parliamentarians, women's groups, trade unions,
academies of science and engineering, religious groups,
cultural societies, foundations and youth -- each in its own
forum has debated and shaped its own role in support of the
Conference goals.
This Conference established a formal mechanism through
which these crucial actors could express their ideas, voice
their concerns and interact with government representatives.
Thus, Habitat is the
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first United Nations conference to have given, as part of its
official machinery, a platform to representatives of civil
society. This has been a conference in which new partnerships
have begun to take shape, in support of a common objective.
This process was strengthened by the many parallel events
which took place during the Conference itself. Dialogues,
seminars, symposia, panels and presentations of all kinds
tackled the major substantive issues before the Conference,
thus broadening and deepening its already vast and complex
agenda. The wide variety of subjects that were addressed was
matched by the diversity of their sponsors. I congratulate
the Government of Turkey and the Municipality of Istanbul for
facilitating this process and for the very active organizing
and sponsoring role they have played.
An important aspect of the Habitat process should be
highlighted for its technical and practical contribution.
This is the identification of "best practices" as models of
innovative thinking and sources of inspiration for urban
improvements. In this way, Habitat has been a launching pad
for ideas that can make a difference in people's lives and
which can be freely used and adapted to serve all communities
in search of a better life. Such innovation has given this
Conference a unique flair and is a guarantee of its practical
impact.
I have been particularly satisfied to see that this has
been a truly system-wide collective effort. Cooperation among
the agencies and programmes of the United Nations, including
the Bretton Woods institutions, was productive both in the
proceedings of the Conference and in the many parallel events.
I will spare no effort to ensure that this strong spirit of
inter-agency teamwork and interaction will be maintained in
the next crucial phase of translating your decisions into
concrete action.
In this respect, I would like to emphasize three
requirements:
- The individual institutions of the United Nations
system must engage in mutually supporting activities. This is
particularly important given the multidisciplinary nature of
this Conference.
- The follow-up to this Conference must be integrated
with the actions under way to implement the outcomes of other
recent global conferences. The framework for such integrated
follow-up has been set through the thematic task forces
established by the United Nations system. The issues covered
by these task forces: employment and sustainable livelihood,
the enabling environment and social services, together with
the emphasis on the alleviation of poverty are critical to the
implementation of decisions reached at this Conference.
- We must give additional push in the follow-up phase to
reinforcing the partnerships between the United Nations and
civil society, whose active participation and diverse
contributions have made this Conference so singular and so
productive.
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It is time to demonstrate the vision, leadership and
political will to confront the challenges that this Conference
has addressed. You, as Heads of State and Government,
individually and collectively, are the facilitators to set
that process in motion.
The decisions reached at Istanbul constitute a solid
foundation for future progress. But they must be translated
into concrete measures, into national policy, into new forms
of international cooperation, into greater cooperation between
government and civil society.
Thank you, Mr. President, for your wise leadership and
strong commitment to the success of this Conference.
Our deep appreciation must also go to the Mayor of
Istanbul, and to the people of this magnificent city, for
their warm welcome and generous hospitality.
Finally, on behalf of the United Nations system, I wish
to thank the Republic of Turkey for making this truly unique
event possible. This county and its people can be justly
proud for their contribution, through this Conference, to
build a better world.
Thank you.
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