EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: Chad Carpenter Wagaki Mwangi Steve Wise Managing Editor Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" A DAILY REPORT ON THE SECOND SESSION OF THE PREPCOM TO THE SECOND UN CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS Vol. 11 No. 5 Wednesday, 26 April 1995 HABITAT II PREPCOM II HIGHLIGHTS TUESDAY, 25 APRIL 1995 The opening Plenary of the 15th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements met Tuesday morning. In the afternoon, the Habitat II PrepCom II Plenary resumed general debate and the informal group of Working Group II started work on the Draft Statement of Principles and Global Plan of Action. The Commission continued its meetings into the afternoon. PLENARY International Union of Local Authorities: Colonel Maximo M.M. Ng'andwe stated this Conference marked the first time that local government authorities are participating in the UN process distinct from NGOs. Local governments are not an instrument of international authorities, but full players because they are closest to the people. He also requested a panel of distinguished mayors from around the world for Istanbul. Kenya: Hon. Jonathan Ng'eno, Minister for Public Works and Housing, re-emphasized the crucial role of the UNCHS and reiterated the need to keep UNEP and UNCHS management separate. While urbanization is irreversible, it is also important to improve the living conditions in rural areas and establish linkages between the two. The PrepCom needs specific mechanisms to facilitate its goals, including the elimination of poverty. Gabon: Mr. Ntoutoume Emane, Minister of State, said that social and economic dwellings are a vital part of social policy. It is important to revise the financing mechanisms related to social housing, particularly those linked to the short term financing procedures of international financial institutions, which have made it difficult to implement the Rio recommendations. Brazil: Mr. G. Holanda Cavalcanti said the Draft Statement of Principles and the Global Plan of Action provide a sound basis for work, but noted that it needs to indicate the role of the international community, in particular technical assistance and mobilization of resources. The problems of small urban settlements and the development of adequate technologies and management issues need to be addressed. China: Vice-Minister Mao Rubai said the Conference should strive to eliminate poverty, promote sustainable economic development, and control excessive population growth. He noted many improvements in China's housing situation in recent years, but noted the enormous problems impending. Russian Federation: Amb. Boris Maiorski said that countries with economies in transition need new housing policies for a market economy. The Russian government has agreed to set up a national committee. He added that Russia will need financial support to continue ongoing reforms. Australia: Amb. Lawry Herron stated that the sectoral approach has not delivered economic and social renewal, therefore Australia is developing a cross-sectoral approach that focuses on citizens. Preparations for Habitat II must recognize the interdependency of social and environmental goals as well as the principles established in other recent UN conferences. United Arab Emirates: Mr. Ali Alshami, Deputy Minister, said that UAE has created a national preparatory committee consisting of municipal authorities, local authorities, academics and NGOs. He also endorsed the need for the international community to take coordinated action. Gambia: Mr. S.K. Sagina, Deputy Permanent Secretary, noted that Gambia has adopted institutional changes, such as housing projects and urban environment projects, and has implemented international housing protocols. Lack of funds is a major constraint and without financial assistance Gambia will encounter delays in implementing the outcomes of the Conference. Bangladesh: Mr. Hasinur Rahman outlined the activities the country has undertaken on Habitat II: the right to housing has been recognized; a 66-member national preparatory committee has been set up; a national plan of action has been prepared; urban and housing indicators are being worked out in line with the Habitat II guidelines; and a national housing authority is under consideration. Ghana: Deputy Minister Alex B. Akuffo underscored the need to give priority to disaster mitigation and rehabilitation and then elaborated on the shelter and housing activities Ghana has undertaken based on the country's 2020 Vision. Tunisia: General Director Medini elaborated on the success of two housing programmes: the first targets the poorest in urban areas; and the second, the Integrated Rural Programme, targets the rural areas. He stressed that overcoming problems that impede development in rural areas requires local and international solidarity, which Habitat II should demonstrate. The Philippines: Under Secretary Aniceto M. Sobrepana said the Global Plan of Action should adequately reflect the responsibility of the international community, in particular in the technical and financial aspects. Habitat II should focus on sustainable urban development and provide the link between Rio and Istanbul. Lesotho: Hon. Lesao Lehohla, Minister of Home Affairs and Local Government, recalled the Kampala Declaration and reaffirmed his commitment to HABITAT II. Lesotho is engaged in a national preparatory process, establishing a national committee and a task force on assistance needed from HABITAT II and submitting three best practices to the Secretariat. Burundi: Mr. Marc Ndayamirije described the special needs of his country, which has lost housing and urban structures from war and disaster. Burundi has established a shelter policy and a ministry in charge of displaced people, but requested assistance from governments, UNCHS and NGOs to help its reconstruction. Burkina Faso: Mr. Joseph Guiebo said Habitat II was of great importance because of severe economic troubles. Burkina Faso has instituted a Five Year Plan that will deliver 225,000 housing units, has held many workshops and initiated population studies. INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON THE GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION The informal working group on document A/CONF.165/ PC.2/3, the Draft Statement of Principles and Global Plan of Action (GPA), met Tuesday afternoon to begin the "hands-on" process of preparing the documents to be adopted in Istanbul. The Secretariat said the Bureau had decided that to avoid last-minute negotiations at PrepCom III, delegations must begin to engage each other rather than the Secretariat, and that the Secretariat would pull back and act only as a facilitator. A member of the Secretariat outlined the methodology for the development of the draft, the fundamental premises used in its elaboration and how changes in the problems of human settlements argue for a new approach to urbanization. The Secretariat introduced document A/CONF.165/PC.2/3/Add.1, which includes the three thematic programme areas proposed by the Secretariat: sustainable urban and regional development; sustainable shelter and community development; and sustainable settlements management and governance. Some delegates pointed out technical problems with the Secretariat's draft, including its avoidance of the political issue of planning, the responsibilities of national governments and an implicit anti-rural bias. Following a brief interval, the group reconvened for an abbreviated session. Delegates, some of whom were sitting on tables or the floor or standing in the hall, expressed concern that the meeting room was not adequate for the number of participants. They also noted that regional groups needed time to develop their positions on the draft GPA. The EU circulated its outline for the structure of discussion on the content of the final document. After brief sections describing a preamble and the three principles from the Secretariat draft, the EU outline reorganizes the discussion on commitments into subject- oriented clusters: shelter for all; sustainable urban development; and cross-sectoral issues. The EU's outline has sections that were written to be as detailed and concrete as possible regarding shelter for all, sustainable human settlements, institutions, social concerns and implementation. 15TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS The Session was officially opened by the Chair of the 14th Commission on Human Settlements, David Johannson (Finland), and followed by the election of the new Bureau and consideration of procedural matters. In a Plenary session, the Report on the progress of work was presented. In the afternoon, the Commission broke into two Committees. David Johannson said an outstanding achievement of the 14th Session was the formulation of the two objectives of Habitat II. This Commission shall consider proposals for new objectives for the UN Centre for Human Settlement (UNCHS), the role of the Centre within the UN and the proposals on the work programme and budget for the biennial period 1996-1997. The new objectives shall include those anticipated for adoption by the Habitat II Conference. Wally N'Dow, on behalf of the UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, noted that this session carries a special significance as the last before HABITAT II. By the early decades of the next century, the vast majority of the global population will live in cities, which will increase the demand for jobs and shelter. The recommendations from this session will be valuable contributions to the "City Summit" in Istanbul in 1996. Wally N'Dow, Secretary-General of HABITAT II, stated that there must be recognition of all actors involved, such as local authorities, the private sector, NGOs, and young people, as part of the solution. He added that future human settlement policies cannot be created in ignorance of other development issues and urged the Conference to add its voice to the discussion against war as a destroyer of human settlements. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assistant Executive Director, Jorg Illueca, on behalf of Executive Director Elizabeth Dowdeswell, said a focus on the human environment will draw UNEP and UNCHS together to prevent destruction of environmental resources. Areas of cooperation include a sustainable cities program, task forces on the relief-to-development continuum, small island states and vector control, and development of sustainable development indicators. UNEP will assist stakeholders in attaining sustainable urban development to understand and solve environmental problems in urban communities. Wally N'Dow, on behalf of UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, presented the Progress Report. Preparations for Habitat II have provided the basis for planning by the Centre. The medium-term plan that was approved by ECOSOC in its last meeting takes into account the anticipated outcomes of recent UN meetings, as well as the new mandate to be given to the Centre in Istanbul for monitoring and implementing of the Global Plan of Action. The Centre's work on indicators, as tools to guide progress in human settlements, has been fully incorporated into the activities of Habitat II. Committee II, addressing the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000 (GSS), recommended that the mid-term review should pay attention to environment as well as social safety nets for the most vulnerable and that these lessons should be included in the Global Plan of Action for Istanbul to develop the GSS further. Enough work should be done on the indicators programme for input into Habitat II. IN THE BREEZEWAYS While issue definition, information exchange and agreement on the scope and objectives are important stages for any successful negotiation, several observers have noted that the PrepCom needs to move quickly beyond these and toward an agreed basis for negotiation. Those who have participated in the development of other plans, programmes and platforms in the recent past have expressed a certain unease with the paucity of progress, fearing that the Committee will run out of time in New York next January. Some have noted that in terms of negotiating sessions, the PrepCom is beyond the half-way point to Istanbul without a word of agreed text or, alas, even a bracket. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY PLENARY: The Plenary of Habitat II will resume today at 9:30 am. Additional plenary sessions may be scheduled. WORKING GROUP ON THE GPA: The informal working group will resume deliberations at 2:30 p.m., beginning with the preamble to the Global Plan of Action and possibly hearing input from regional groups. The meeting is scheduled for room M-310 but may be moved outside to a temporary human settlement, otherwise known as a tent. COMMISSION ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Both Committees continue with their discussions this morning. The Bureau of the Commission has decided that all draft resolutions for the Commission must be received by 27 April 1995 at 9:00am. All morning meetings are scheduled from 9:30 to 13:30 and 2:30 to 5:30. PRESS BRIEFING: The Secretariat holds daily press briefings at 12:45 pm in the Press Room. ========================================================= This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (c) is written and edited by Chad Carpenter, Wagaki Mwangi and Steve Wise . The Managing Editor is Langston James Goree VI (Kimo) . The sustaining donors of the Bulletin are the International Institute for Sustainable Development , the United Nations Environment Programme and the Pew Charitable Trusts. General support for the Bulletin during 1995 is provided by the United Kingdom, Switzerland, GTZ and the World Bank. Special assistance for the production of issues of the ENB at this meeting has been provided by the Habitat II Secretariat. The authors can be contacted at their electronic mail addresses and by phone and fax at +1-212-888-2737. IISD can be contacted at 161 Portage Ave. E, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4, Canada and by phone at +1-204-958-7700 and by fax at +1-204-958-7710. The opinions expressed in Earth Negotiations Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and other funders. Excerpts from the Earth Negotiations Bulletin may be used in other publications with appropriate citation only. 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