Take the fight against poverty into cities, Ransford Smith urges

Urban centres will only deliver their promise of hope if urban poverty is addressed, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith said in a message issued on World Habitat Day 2006 on 2 October. He stressed that there can be no sustainable development without sustainable urbanisation.

Pointing out that the percentage of the world's urban population has increased to nearly 50 per cent from 30 per cent in the last 50 years, Mr Smith put the spotlight on the urban poor who provide essential pools of labour and services in cities.

"Regrettably, poverty and the deprivation experienced by urban slum dwellers are often underestimated. Thus, low rates of water and sanitation coverage, high child mortality and poor education enrolment go unrecognised," he said.

Mr Smith stressed the need for good slum-upgrading programmes, which the World Health Organisation says can reduce infant and child mortality rates by more than 80 per cent.

"Through ComHabitat, the Commonwealth continues to support its members in actively promoting implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Commonwealth's own goal to 'demonstrate progress towards adequate shelter for all with secure tenure and access to essential services in every community by 2015'," he added.

ComHabitat is a partnership between civil society, governments and Commonwealth ministers. It works to improve human settlements in Commonwealth countries.

The full text of Mr Smith's World Habitat Day message is available here.

Key Links:

• Environment
• World Habitat Day Message