52/190 Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 51/177 of 16 December 1996, in which it endorsed the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements ⁽⁵⁴⁾ and the Habitat Agenda, ⁽⁵⁵⁾ adopted by the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) at Istanbul, on 14 June 1996,

Cognizant of the importance of maintaining the momentum already generated at the national, regional and international levels for the implementation of measures designed to address the economic, social and environmental consequences of rapid urbanization,

Stressing the need to improve conditions of shelter, access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and basic social services in both rural and urban areas,

Recalling paragraph 218 of the Habitat Agenda, in which the Conference requested the General Assembly to consider holding a special session in the year 2001 for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of Habitat II, and paragraph 15 of General Assembly resolution 51/177, in which the Assembly requested that a decision on the matter be taken at its fifty-second session,

Noting the delay in the submission of the report of the Secretary-General on the final comprehensive and in-depth assessment of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements with a view to its revitalization, as called for in paragraph 19 of Assembly resolution 51/177, and stressing that that has constrained consideration by the Assembly of those issues,

Recalling its resolution 51/225 of 3 April 1997, and noting with concern the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, ⁽⁵⁶⁾ in which serious concern is expressed about the financial irregularities in the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, and recognizing that the serious management and financial situation at the Centre should be addressed as a matter of urgency,

1. Takes note of the reports of the Commission on Human Settlements on its sixteenth session ⁽⁵⁷⁾ and on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, ⁽⁵⁸⁾ and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II); ⁽⁵⁹⁾

2. Requests the Secretary-General to address urgently the serious management and financial situation at the Centre to meet its responsibilities in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, ⁽⁶⁰⁾ in accordance with Commission on Human Settlements resolution 16/8; ⁽⁶¹⁾

3. Urges the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements to take further action towards the reform of the administrative and financial management of the Centre pursuant to the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, ⁽⁶²⁾ as well as the relevant reports of the United Nations Board of Auditors and Commission on Human Settlements resolutions 16/8, 16/19, 16/28 and 16/29; ⁽⁶³⁾

4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-third session the comprehensive and in-depth assessment of the Centre with a view to its revitalization called for in paragraph 19 of Assembly resolution 51/177, taking into account Commission resolution 16/8 and other relevant resolutions adopted by the Commission at its sixteenth session;

5. Urges all Governments and other actors concerned with human settlements and urban management issues, such as local authorities, relevant intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, parliamentarians, the private sector, trade unions, academicians and other community groups, to implement fully and effectively the Habitat Agenda;

6. Invites Governments to consider, where appropriate, including in their delegations to future sessions of the Commission, in accordance with the specific conditions of each country, representatives of local authorities and the relevant actors of civil society, particularly the private sector, non-governmental organizations and research organizations, in the field of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development;

7. Affirms that in a rapidly urbanizing world, the pivotal role of local authorities in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda should be recognized and enhanced;

8. Requests all relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations, including the regional commissions, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions to support fully the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda at all levels, to enhance their cooperation for that purpose with a view to promoting integrated, interrelated and coherent implementation of and coordinated follow-up to United Nations conferences;

9. Stresses that the full and effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, in particular in all developing countries, especially those in Africa and the least developed countries, will require mobilization of additional financial resources from various sources at the national and international levels and more effective development cooperation in support of national efforts in order to promote assistance for shelter and human settlements activities;

10. Invites all Governments and the international community to consider providing further support to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation in its activities, taking into account the need to continue to improve its effectiveness;

11. Invites the Commission on Human Settlements to promote the use of a set of key indicators to be further developed by the Centre and used by Governments, as appropriate, for national and local monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda;

12. Decides to hold a special session of the General Assembly in the year 2001 for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), the modalities of which will be decided on at its fifty-third session;

13. Invites the Economic and Social Council to consider devoting one high-level segment before the year 2001 to human settlements and the implementation of the Habitat Agenda;

14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution;

15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)".