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• A message by the Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Ransford Smith, on World Habitat Day 2007, Monday 1 October

A message by the Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Ransford Smith, on World Habitat Day 2007, Monday 1 October

People continue to migrate to cities in ever increasing numbers in pursuit of better opportunities and living standards. But as the world has continued to urbanise, slums too have been on the rise. For the Commonwealth, as an advocate for justice, human rights and poverty alleviation, this is a real concern. Slums are a vivid demonstration of the 'unsafe and unjust' side of today's cities. They are often poorly serviced by clean water, sanitation facilities and other public services and are thus largely excluded from the fruits of economic and social development. The young are particularly at risk. Commonwealth Youth Ministers recently noted that there has been an "intolerable increase" in incidences of urban crime and violence, where young people are increasingly the perpetrators and the victims.

 

We need more effective urban governance that acknowledges and addresses the needs of the poor and better responds to the dynamics of informal settlements so as to create opportunities for slum dwellers. Planning, adequate financing of basic services, infrastructure and housing, lie at the heart of the solution to these challenges. And particular attention needs to be paid to the combined effects of local and global environmental change on the urban poor.

 

The Commonwealth has placed these challenges at the centre of its new Strategic Plan for the Commonwealth's own partnership on human settlements, ComHabitat. This is working to help deliver better financing at the local level to ensure adequate shelter for all, including access to essential services; to strengthen leadership in governance and planning; and to make urban areas safer places to live.

 

World Habitat Day is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges to sustainable human settlements development and to recommit our energies to finding a way forward. Every human being has the right to live in security, peace and dignity. This is why the Commonwealth is steadfastly working towards assisting its members to achieve the Commonwealth goal of: "Demonstrated progress towards adequate shelter for all with secure tenure and access to essential services in every community by 2015".

 

Justice and safety go hand-in-hand and in a rapidly urbanising world we must extend these benefits to the very poorest and most vulnerable in our societies. By tackling the problems of slums, we can help people to realize their full potential and make a better world for all.