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Twenty-second Session of the UN-HABITAT Governing Council
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Coverage of the 20th session of the UN-HABITAT Governing Council
Twenty-second Session of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Governing Council

30 March - 3 April 2009 | Nairobi, Kenya

Highlights for Monday, 30 March 2009

The 22nd Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT GC 22) opened on Monday, 30 March 2009 at UN-HABITAT headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Delegates convened in the morning for the opening ceremony, followed by a plenary session where they considered organizational matters, heard a policy statement by the UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka, and reviewed matters before the Council. In the afternoon, delegates convened in a high-level ministerial segment and in a parallel Committee of the Whole session.

In the evening delegates attended a reception hosted by the Brazilian Government.
Daily web coverage
30 March - 31 March - 1 April - 2 April - 3 April
Delegates arriving for the 22nd Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT GC 22).
Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT; Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Vice President, Kenya
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Vice President, Kenya, reiterated Kenya’s commitment to building sustainable, pro-poor housing units in urban areas.
Soita Shitanda, Minister for Housing, Kenya.
Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP, urged delegates to see the global financial crisis as an opportunity to create green economies around the world.
Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, highlighted UN-HABITAT’s work through the World Urban Campaign and the Cities in Climate Change Initiative.
L-R: Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN HABITAT; and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Vice President, Kenya
Achim Steiner and Anna Tibaijuka in informal consultations after the ceremony.
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Anna Tibaijuka making their mark on the painting.
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Vice President, Kenya and UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner, admiring the work of Dario Posada, which will be a donated to UN-HABITAT by the Government of Brazil.
Delegates watch a video.
The Albino Revolutionary Dance Troupe from Tanzania entertained delegates during the opening ceremony.
Delegates stand to congratulate students of the Youth Empowerment Programme. L-R: Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Inga Bjork-Klevby , Deputy Executive Director, UN-HABITAT;  Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT; Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Vice President, Kenya; Soita Shitanda, Minister for Housing, Kenya; Michael Werikhe, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Uganda; and Rolf Wichmann, Secretary, UN-HABITAT Governing Council.
Delegates in the foreground pose for a picture with graduates of the Youth Empowerment Programme, a UN-HABITAT sponsored initiative.
Delegates pose for a picture with members of the Albino Revolutionary Dance Troupe.
Delegates admire a painting.
High-level Segment
Dais during the high-level segment. L-R: Bert Diphoorn, UN-HABITAT; Everald Warmington, Jamaica, President of the Governing Council; Rolf Wichmann, Secretary, Governing Council; and Iftikhar Arain, Pakistan, Rapporteur
Bayan Dizaye, Minister of Housing and Construction, Iraq
Delegates during the high-level segment
Delegates in informal discussions.
Mohammad Yusuf Asy'ari, Minister for Public Housing, Indonesia
Plenary Session
A bird’s eye view of the plenary room.
F.G. Mhashu, Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Zimbabwe
Amb. Daniel Chuburu, Argentina.
Everald Warmington, Minister of State, Jamaica, was elected President of the Governing Council.
Delegates listen to a policy statement by Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT.
Press Conference
L-R: Michael Werikhe, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Uganda; Anna Tibaijuka; and Everald Warmington.
L-R: Michael Werikhe, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Uganda; Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT; Everald Warmington, Minister of State, Jamaica; and Sharad Shankardass, UN-HABITAT.
Members of the press during the press conference.
Committee of the Whole
The dais at the opening of the Committee of the Whole (COW)
Inga Bjork-Klevby, Deputy Executive Director, UN-HABITAT
Franz-B Marre, Germany, President of the COW
Evening Reception
Anna Tibaijuka made a toast to Brazil hosting the World Urban Forum in 2010.
Amb. Ana Maria Sampaio Fernandes, Brazil, invited delegates to the World Urban Forum to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2010.
Pillars of Kibera Dancers
Delegates make their way to the reception through the evening downpour.
Delegates at the evening reception hosted by the Government of Brazil.
Daily web coverage
30 March - 31 March - 1 April - 2 April - 3 April
Related Links
UN-HABITAT resources
Meeting webpage
Provisional agenda
Background documents
Pre-session documents
Report on UN-HABITAT GC 21

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