Impassioned pleas for safer, greener cities Vancouver, 22 June 2006 – Mr. Enrique Peñalosa, the former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, drew a standing ovation at the plenary of the Third Session of the World Urban Forum on Thursday when said cities would save a lot of money if the use of cars was restricted or even banned during peak hours. UN-HABITAT and Government of Sri Lanka sign agreement on slum upgrading Vancouver, 22 June 2006 – UN-HABITAT and the Government of Sri Lanka on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding targeting slum upgrading in the Asian nation. Nairobi Youth Centre partners with Oslo counterpart Vancouver, 22 June 2006 – Under a UN-HABITAT initiative, the Nairobi One Stop Youth Information and Resource Centre on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Oslo Youth Centre. From Kabul to Vancouver, a common thread to vastly different cities Vancouver, 21 June 2006 – Delegates at the Third Session of the World Urban Forum listened in rapt silence on Wednesday as speakers from Kabul and Vancouver presented a picture of two cities at opposite sides of the world and opposite ends of the development. UN-HABITAT signs cooperation agreement with Computer Aid International Vancouver, 20 June 2006 – UN-HABITAT and Computer Aid International Monday signed a landmark agreement to help avail ICT to the inhabitants of Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one of the world's poorest informal settlements. Forum speakers call for concerted efforts to help house the urban poor Vancouver, 20 June 2006 – Keynote speakers addressing the plenary of the Third Session of the World Urban Forum on Tuesday highlighted the crisis of the world's urban poor as a key challenge of the new millennium. Norway and UN-HABITAT sign a new agreement for programme cooperation Vancouver, 20 June 2006 – UN-HABITAT and the government of Norway Monday signed a cooperation agreement which will see the UN agency receive support amounting to nearly 17 million US dollars annually for the next two years. UN-HABITAT and ENDA in partnership pact Vancouver, 19 June 2006 – UN-HABITAT and Environment and Development Action in the Third World (ENDA) Monday signed an agreement of cooperation aimed at assessing the progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) relating to human settlements. A glittering opening of the Third Session of World Urban Forum Vancouver, 19 June 2006 – The third session of the World Urban opened on Monday with calls to improve the lives of the slum dwellers, and provide better financial and political support to local governments as our planet becomes irreversibly an urban world. Joachim Chissano nominated as UN HABITAT Youth Ambassador Vancouver, 18 June 2006 – UN-HABITAT`s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, on Sunday appointed former Mozambique President, Mr. Joachim Chissano, as the agency's Youth Ambassador to ensure that the concerns of young people remain high on the international agenda. New UN-HABITAT Report says urban dwellers badly off Nairobi/Vancouver, 19 June 2006 – Contrary to popular belief, urban populations are not healthier, more literate and more prosperous than rural populations, a new report by UN-HABITAT shows Vancouver gears up for Third Session of World Urban Forum Vancouver, 10 June 2006 – The Canadian city of Vancouver is gearing up for the Third Session of the World Urban Forum, UN-HABITAT’s premier international meeting on the state of the world’s growing cities held every two years. NGOs demand greater involvement with UN bodies Nairobi, 7 June 2007 - A landmark meeting of non-governmental and civil society organisations closed in Nairobi on Tuesday with calls for greater involvement of non-governmental and civil society organizations within the United Nations system as they seek to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director lauds NGOs for their support Nairobi, 4 June 2006— UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Monday lauded non-governmental and civil society organizations saying they were playing a critical role in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UN-HABITAT and MASHAV hold first joint urban training seminar Nyeri, Kenya 31 May 2006 — Some 26 participants last week successfully took part in a Training of Trainers workshop as part of a joint initiative between UN-HABITAT and the Centre for International Cooperation of Israel (MASHAV). India joins UN-HABITAT to establish new Asia-Pacific housing forum Nairobi, 29 May 2006 – India has signed a landmark agreement with UN-HABITAT to host the inaugural meeting of a new housing development forum for the rapidly urbanising Asia-Pacific region, which is home to the world’s largest number of slum dwellers. UN-HABITAT and Action Aid sign cooperation agreement Nairobi, 29 May 2006 - UN-HABITAT and the international development agency Action Aid last Friday signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement which will see the two organisations collaborate in wide ranging areas of mutual concern. A new UN-HABITAT office for Eastern Europe in Warsaw Warsaw, 26 May 2006 – UN-HABITAT will open a new East European regional office in the Polish capital Warsaw 1 June with funding from the Polish government, the agency announced on Friday. Slum dwellers and governments in landmark meeting on low-cost housing Cape Town, 25 May 2006 — At the behest of the recently concluded African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (AMCHUD), homeless people and slum dwellers from around the world gathered in Cape Town last week to engage governments in talks to improve their plight. New Zambian and Portuguese envoys present credentials Nairobi 23 May 2006 – New Permanent Representatives from Zambia and Portugal presented their credentials to UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Friday 19 May 2006. Somalia housing project progressing with Japanese funding Garowe, Puntland, 18 May 2006 - Top officials led by the Vice-President of Puntland, Mr. Hassan Dahir Mohamoud, on Saturday opened a new housing project for the urban poor and people displaced by conflict. Tibaijuka pleads for energy for the urban poor New York, 16 May 2006 — UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka said in a statement to the fourteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in New York that poor people living in towns and cities around the world had benefited very little from conventional energy policies, with an estimated 2 billion forced to cut down trees and use other traditional fuels for cooking because they had no electricity. Professor John Friedmann wins first ‘UN-HABITAT Lecture’ award Nairobi, 15 May 2006 - Professor John Friedmann has won the first United Nations Human Settlements Lecture award. The recently launched UN-HABITAT Lecture series is organized through the Global Research Network on Human Settlements (HS-Net), an international board that advises UN-HABITAT on its Global Report on Human Settlements. Tibaijuka briefs United States Senate on urbanization in Africa Washington DC, 8 May 2006, – UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, last week told a special panel of the United States Senate that 72 percent of the urban populations in Africa still live in slums and informal settlements. Pomp and dance mark a Hip Hop MDG event Nairobi 2 May 2006 - All roads in Nairobi last Saturday led to the African Cultural Research and Education Foundation (ACREF) centre in Baba Dogo estate where a unique hip hop concert aimed at educating Kenyan youth on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was held. New Malaysian and Spanish envoys to UN-HABITAT Nairobi, 2 May 2006 - Two new Permanent Representatives to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Selwyn Das of Malaysia, and Mr. Nicolas Martin Cinto of Spain, last week presented their credentials to the UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. Chinese President Hu visits UN headquarters in Africaa Nairobi, 28 April 2006 - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday visited the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi during a state visit to Kenya marking the last leg of a five-nation tour to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Nigeria. UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director addresses Commonwealth meeting on Africa’s urbanisation crisis Kampala, 27 April 2006 - UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Thursday told a Commonwealth symposium on local democracy that Africa was facing a considerable urbanisation crisis and that administrative powers had to be better decentralised to tackle the problem. Helping young people in slums tell their story to the world Nairobi 25 April 2006 - A collection of photographs taken by teenagers given cameras and assigned to document their lives in the crowded Nairobi slum of Mathari will go on display at the third session of UN-HABITAT’s World Urban Forum in Vancouver in June as part of a novel, internationally sponsored project to reflect the concerns of young people and inspire their peers. Madagascar launches new drive to upgrade urban settlements Antananarivo, 20 April 2006 – Prime Minister Jacques Sylla of Madagascar has launched a national programme to upgrade informal settlements and prepare sound urban development with the support of UN-HABITAT and the United Nations Development Programme. UN-HABITAT teams up with India for better water and sanitation Ahmedabad, India, 4 April 2006 - A two-day roundtable meeting between UN-HABITAT and the Centre for Environment Education in India concluded in Ahmedabad last week with calls for greater cooperation between the two institutions in the area of sanitation. UN-HABITAT and Russia sign new cooperation agreement Nairobi, 11 April 2006 – UN-HABITAT and the Russian Federation signed a new cooperation agreement on Tuesday aimed at achieving sustainable development of human settlements, implementing the Habitat Agenda and meeting the relevant Millennium Development Goals. Rwandan Genocide Commemorated Nairobi, 7 April 2006 – The United Nations community on Friday marked the 12th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide with calls for strict surveillance so that such an act is never repeated. A new agenda to tackle urban poverty in Africa Nairobi, 4 April 2006 – Resolving to place their urban poverty crisis at the top of the national and international policy making agenda, African ministers responsible for housing and urban development on Tuesday discussed a 10-point game plan designed to reduce urban poverty, defuse potential social unrest, and reverse the perception that governments are not doing enough, quickly enough. African ministerial conference opens with calls to drive a new urban agenda Nairobi, 3 April 2006 – Ministers responsible for housing and urban development from more than 30 African countries gathered in Nairobi on Monday for a two-day conference to thrash out new strategies to aimed at achieving the World Summit Commitments on slums UN-HABITAT launches its second global report on water and sanitation Mexico City, 27 March 2006 - UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Sunday launched the agency's second Global Report on Water and Sanitation with a warning that the projected increase of urban dwellers will have far reaching implications on water and sanitation provision and efforts must be stepped up to meet this challenge. UN-HABITAT bestows Special Citation on King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden Stockholm, 27 March 2006 – Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, on Monday presented King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden with a Special Citation in this year’s UN-HABITAT Scroll of Honour Award for “his tireless campaigning to promote an environmentally sustainable human habitat Major new funding for water and sanitation in African cities Mexico City, 23 March 2006 –UN-HABITAT and the African Development Bank (ADB) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to improve urban water and sanitation in African cities in coming years with Bank funding worth 500 million US dollars. New German envoy presents credentials Nairobi, 20 March 2006 – Germany’s new Permanent Representative to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Walter Johannes Lindner, last week presented his credentials to the Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. Construction of social housing begins in Serbia Belgrade, 14 March 2006 - An ambitious social housing programme with significant funding from the Government of Italy and support from UN-HABITAT kicked off in Kragujevac, Serbia on March 1. Safer Nairobi convention kicks off Nairobi, 14 March 2006 - The second City Residents Convention aimed at seeking solutions to the problem of insecurity in Nairobi kicked off on Monday with calls for greater participation from leaders and citizenry in enhancing safety. New housing project in Chad N’djamena 13 March 2006 - The Government of Chad, with the support of UNDP and UN-HABITAT officially launched a housing programme last week aimed at improving the shelter and living conditions of urban poor. UN report highlights governance as key to water provision Mexico City/Nairobi 9 March 2006 - The second United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) was launched on Thursday with the spotlight turning on governance systems as key to determining the availability of the commodity. South African judge makes a landmark ruling in favour of urban poor protecting their right to adequate housing Johannesburg, 9 March 2006 - A South African court last week made a landmark judgment concerning housing rights of the urban poor when it ruled unconstitutional plans by Johannesburg city to conduct evictions from ‘bad buildings’.   Mrs. Tibaijuka campaigns for more women friendly legislation Nairobi, 8 March 2006 - As the world marked International Women’s Day, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka hailed the achievements made by womenfolk but called for a thought for those in the developing countries’ cities without access to basic services or adequate shelter. Tanzania hails Mrs. Tibaijuka’s leadership NAIROBI, 6 March 2006 – The United Republic of Tanzania says it was proud of the achievements made by UN-HABITAT in recent years especially under the leadership of Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka as the Executive Director.   UN-HABITAT contractor murdered in Afghanistan NAIROBI, 6 March 2006 – Mohammed Hashim, an Afghan national on contract with UN-HABITAT was brutally murdered on 4 March 2006 while undertaking a routine monitoring visit in Farah Province in western Afghanistan. The engineer, was reportedly stopped by armed men, dragged from his vehicle and summarily shot. Conquering robbers and hate through mountain climbing Marangu, Tanzania 3 March 2006 – About three years ago Tim Challen was airlifted from Nairobi for specialized treatment in Europe facing the prospect of having a leg amputated. The victim of an armed robbery attempt gone awry, this week, he led an international expedition up Mount Kilimanjaro and returned safely.   Better conservation for Africa’s highest mountain Moshi, Tanzania, 1 March 2006 –On a working tour of Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka at the weekend called on local officials and community groups to double efforts conservation efforts for Africa’s highest mountain. Mrs. Tibaijuka says Master Plans key to sustainable urbanisation Moshi, Tanzania, 1 March 2006 –The urbanisation crisis facing many countries, especially in Africa, can be effectively tackled if towns and cities stuck to detailed master plans, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka told a group of Tanzanian experts.   Climbing Africa’s highest peak to promote safer cities MOSHI, Tanzania, 28 February 2006 – A young Briton wounded in shooting in an armed robbery in Nairobi two years ago, took the first steps up Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, at the weekend to publicise the need to engage young people in crime prevention. Raising the profile – historic urbanisation debate in British House of Commons London, 21 February 2006 —In a historic first of its kind, the British House of Commons recently held an adjournment debate on Urbanisation in Developing Countries. Members of Parliament from all parties recognized that urbanisation in the developing world was both a challenge and an opportunity.   Mrs. Tibaijuka calls for stronger UN-HABITAT ties with ACP Brussels, 20 February 2006 – UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka says that the partnership between the agency and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries was vital and called for strengthening of those ties. European Commission joins UN-HABITAT to promote sustainable cities Brussels, 17 February 2006—The executive commission of the European Union and UN-HABITAT this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the research relationship between the two organisations with the aim of promoting sustainable cities as urban populations around the world grow at unprecedented rates.   UNACLA celebrates 5th birthday Washington, 15 February 2006— Mayors and senior city officials from around the world celebrated the 5th anniversary of the United Nations Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA) with renewed calls for decentralisation of power to ensure better service delivery at the community level. In memory of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri Nairobi, 13 February 2006— Tuesday 14 February will mark the first anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the man credited with the reconstruction of his once war ravaged country.   Cities must be managed better in battle against global warming Dubai, 9 February 2006 – UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Tuesday made an urgent call for immediate action to address the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly urbanizing and globalizing world. Her remarks were made in an impassioned speech to world environment ministers at the Ninth Special Session of the Governing Council and Global Ministerial Forum of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Mrs. Tibaijuka demands better legislation to underwrite women’s empowerment Nairobi, 31 January 2006—UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Monday called on world governments to enact legislation that will ensure that women achieved gender equality in accessing human settlements.   United Arab Emirates to build 1,000 homes for Sri Lanka tsunami victims Colombo, 27 January 2006 – The Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates this week signed two agreements with UN-HABITAT to provide funding for the construction of 1,000 houses in areas of Galle, Trincomalee, Ampara and Kattankudy devastated by the December 2004 tsunami killer wave. The agreements were signed by Mr. Abdullah Al-Mahmood of Red Crescent Society, UAE and Mr. Lalith Lankatillake, Regional Advisor of UN-HABITAT. Remembering the Holocaust Nairobi, 27 January 2006 — United Nations staff, members of the diplomatic community and hundreds of school children on Friday gathered in a solemn candle lighting ceremony to mark the first ever International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.   A new Arab League Representative to UN-HABITAT Nairobi, 27 January 2006 – The new Permanent Representative of the League of Arab States to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Salim Mohammed Al-Khussaibi, on Thursday presented his credentials to the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. UN-HABITAT’s Deputy Executive Director receives Francophone ambassadors Nairobi, 27 January 2006 – UN-HABITAT’s Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Inga Bjork-Klevby, on Thursday received ambassadors from Francophone countries to reassure them that the agency was doing all it could to take French language considerations into account at its major meetings like the forthcoming Third Session of the World Urban Forum in Vancouver, Canada.   UN-HABITAT calls for stricter building regulations in wake of Nairobi disaster Nairobi, 26 January 2006— UN-HABITAT ‘s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, on Wednesday called on city authorities in the Kenyan capital to suspend all ongoing multi-storey building work until better inspection measures are enforced. Her comments were made during a visit to the ruins of a building that collapsed this week claiming at least 14 lives, and leaving more than 100 injured with an unknown number of people still unaccounted for. Social Housing competitions launched in Serbia and Montenegro Belgrade, 24 January 2006 – UN-HABITAT, the Ministry for Capital Investments and the Union of Architects in Serbia has successfully launched a series of competitions in local cities for new social housing designs aimed and consolidating reforms in the housing sector.   Kisumu declared world’s first Millennium City Kisumu, 24 January 2006 – The western Kenyan city of Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria has been officially designated the first United Nations Millennium City in the world. Developing a national strategy to harvest rainwater in Nepal Kathmandu, 19 January, 2006 – More than 100 people this week discussed ways of devising a new national strategy to harvest rainwater in towns and settlements in the Kathmandu Valley and other parts of Nepal. Italy releases further funding for Serbian housing programme Belgrade, 17 January 2006 – UN-HABITAT has received 8.5 million dollars from the Italian Government for a social and housing integration programme for tens of thousands of war refugees and other vulnerable people in Serbia. Algeria to build 1 million new housing units Nairobi, 17 January 2006 — The Algerian Government is to build one million housing units to ease accommodation problems in the country. UN-HABITAT signs new social housing improvement programme for southeast Europe Brussels, 16 January 2006 – UN-HABITAT and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe signed a co-operation agreement this week paving the way for improving urban development and social housing in southeast Europe. Boosting secure tenure and good urban governance in the Middle East Cairo, 16 January 2006 – Delegates at an Arab cities meeting held in Cairo last month agreed to promote UN-HABITAT’s campaigns for secure tenure and good urban governance and stressed the need for land strategies for the region. UN-HABITAT Deputy Executive Director Assumes Office Nairobi, 5 January 2006 - The new year begins on a high note with Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, the Executive Director, welcoming Ms. Inga Björk-Klevby, the new Deputy Executive Director to UN-HABITAT. Africa after 2005 Nairobi, 5 January 2006— “As 2005, the year of Africa concludes successfully, it is important not only to celebrate the many achievements of the Commission for Africa, in highlighting the problems and possibilities of Africa, but also to remember that 2006 is the year of implementation of the recommendations put forward by the Commissioners,” said Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT and one of the Commissioners for Africa who advised Prime Minister Tony Blair on policies to improve the situation on the continent. Nepal hosts landfill workshop Katmandu, 21 December 2005— The city of Katmandu recently played host to some 88 delegates for a UN-HABITAT facilitated workshop that deliberated on landfill design and operation. BASF support to tsunami victims Galle, Sri Lanka 21 December 2005—The German chemical company BASF is working with UN-HABITAT in Sri Lanka and India in its continuing support to the tsunami devastated communities bordering the Indian Ocean UN-HABITAT, Sweden join hands in new Kosovo municipal programme Pristina, 14 December 2005 – UN-HABITAT is launching a new Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme in Kosovo to help improve the standard of living in secondary towns and cities and bring them into line with modern European and international standards UN agency meets donors on shelter recovery in Pakistan and Zimbabwe Nairobi, 15 December 2005 – Within the framework of the UN Consolidated Appeals Process, UN-HABITAT today called a donor consultation to raise funds for shelter recovery to aid those who have been evicted from their homes in Zimbabwe and the survivors of the Pakistani earthquake. Russia and Slovakia pledge more support for UN-HABITAT Nairobi, 13 December 2005 – The Permanent Representatives of the Russian Federation and the Slovak Republic to UN-HABITAT have pledged more support for the agency in meetings at which they presented their credentials to the Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. New envoys from Norway and Belgium Nairobi, 8 December 2005 Fukuoka, 16 November 2005 – The new Permanent Representatives of Norway and Belgium presented their credentials to the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on 29 November. They are Ms. Elisabeth Jacobsen of Norway and Ms. Cristina Funes-Noppen of Belgium. UN-HABITAT and Southeast Asian partners discuss water education in schools Cha Am, Thailand, 7 December 2005 — UN-HABITAT and its partners held a three-day conference to help senior officials in Southeast Asia gain a better understanding of the agency’s Water for Asian Cities Programme and the idea of bringing the concepts of water conservation, sanitation and hygiene into school classrooms across the region. Norway and UN-HABITAT hold two-day annual meeting Nairobi, 7 November 2005 – A five-member Norwegian delegation led by Mr. Jostein Leiro, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday concluded a two-day annual meeting with the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, and other officials on progress in the agency’s work programme. Global Internet discussion on urban problems draws thousands to the Habitat Jam Nairobi, 5 December 2005 — From internet cafes in the slums of Nairobi, New Delhi and Lima to flashy office blocks in Europe and north America, thousands of people from around the world at the weekend beamed into the Habitat Jam for a global internet discussion of urban problems aimed at bringing fresh ideas from ordinary people to leaders and experts preparing for the third session of UN-HABITAT’s World Urban Forum in Vancouver next June. UN-HABITAT unveils new human security programme in Afghanistan Kabul, 22 November 2005 —The director of UN-HABITAT’s Regional Office for Asia Pacific, Mr. Madhab Mathema on Monday told a news conference in Kabul that UN-HABITAT was forging ahead with a new human security project aimed at upgrading informal settlements in the three Afghan cities of Kandahar, Mazar, and Jalalabad. At UN Summit, States agree on actions to get information technology to poor Tunis, 18 November 2005 Governments meeting at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) agreed on a range of measures to give poor communities around the world better access to information networks and computer technology. UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director visits Japanese quake zone Fukuoka, 16 November 2005 – UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Tibaijuka, visited Genkai Island off Fukuoka to see at first-hand the damage wrought by an earthquake on 20 March this year and to take stock of reconstruction efforts. East African officials discuss affordable housing Kampala, 16 November, 2005 – Representatives from banks, finance, land and housing ministries from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda gathered in Kampala with American and UN officials for the first regional meeting devoted to promoting innovative financing for affordable housing. Legislators seek debt relief to finance shelter Rabat, 14 November 2005 – Over 170 legislators from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America attending the Fifth Global Parliamentarians on Habitat Forum in Morocco last week adopted the Rabat Declaration advocating debt relief to help finance housing and urban infrastructure. Mrs. Tibaijuka addresses International Conference on Sustainable Urban Development Nanning, 11 November 2005 – UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Friday addressed the International Conference on Sustainable Urban Development with a call for better welfare as a means to achieving sustainable urban development. Using the Internet to make your voice heard Nairobi, 11 November 2005 – In a lead-up to the third session of the World Urban Forum (WUF), to be held in Vancouver, Canada, in June 2006, UN-HABITAT, in collaboration with IBM and the Canadian Government is holding what it hopes will be the world's biggest Internet discussion to date from 1-3 December 2005. Africa’s first Hip-Hop Summit Johannesburg, 9 November 2005 – Shouting their message in full volume to more than 500 participants at the first African Hip-Hop Summit in Newtown, Johannesburg, leading Hip-Hop artists from around the world teamed up with UN-HABITAT last month to help give young people a voice in their affairs. Tibaijuka receives European Permanent Representative Nairobi, 7 November 2005 – The Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, on Monday received the credentials of the Permanent Representative of the European Commission to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Eric Jacob van der Linden. New UN-HABITAT collaboration with Sweden Stockholm, 3 November 2005 – The Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, and the Managing Director of the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC) in Stockholm, Mr. Lennart Hjalmarson, have agreed to start a new collaboration aimed at helping developing countries promote security of tenure, better housing and service provision for poor people. Kenyan and Swedish students hold exhibition on sustainable development Nairobi, 3 November 2005 – Some 31 students from Kenyan and Swedish universities on Thursday held a one-day exhibition at UN-HABITAT’s Nairobi headquarters showcasing their work towards addressing sustainable urban development. Urban development meeting adopts new declaration on cities Geneva, 2 November 2005 – The International Platform on Sustainable Urban Development, has adopted the “Geneva Declaration for a viable future in cities” with the objective of creating a world solidarity network for better human settlements. Mrs. Tibaijuka addresses UN General Assembly New York, 1 November 2005 – UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Tuesday addressed the second committee of the sixtieth General Assembly of the United Nations, introducing the Secretary General’s report on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the agency. Striving for more city parks, sports facilities Cologne, 2 November 2005 – UN-HABITAT is teaming up with the International Association of Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) to push for more parks, sports facilities and urban recreational spaces in towns and cities around the world. Even as spotlight falls on Pakistani quake, UN pushes ahead with tsunami aid New York, 26 October 2005 – Even as United Nations relief operations focus sharply on aiding millions of survivors affected by this month’s devastating earthquake in Pakistan, the world body’s agencies are pressing on with their efforts to help rehabilitate the vast region ravaged by last December’s Indian Ocean tsunami. Despite post-tsunami shelter progress in the Maldives, a funding shortfall Maldives, 25 October 2005 – Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT this week visited Maldives where UNDP and UN-HABITAT are jointly rebuilding homes on 58 islands in the Indian Ocean archipelago devastated by last December’s tsunami. Secretary-General appoints deputy executive director of UN-HABITAT New York, 20 October 2005 – Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced the appointment of Swedish Ambassador Inga Björk-Klevby as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) in Nairobi, Kenya. Tibaijuka receives credentials from two new envoys Nairobi, 17 October 2005 – The Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, last week received credentials from two new envoys to the organization, the Permanent Representative of Denmark, Mr. Bo Jensen, and the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, Mr. Syeed Ahmed. UN-HABITAT launches secure tenure campaign in Thailand Bangkok, 11 October 2005 – During the week of World Habitat Day 3-8 October UN-HABITAT launched its Global Campaign for Secure Tenure and Cities without Slums programme in Thailand. UN-HABITAT pledges Pakistan earthquake recovery support Nairobi, 11 October 2005 – Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, this week offered the agency’s immediate support with emergency relief and recovery following a massive earthquake in Kashmir on Saturday that claimed more than 33,000 lives. Major Norwegian boost for UN-HABITAT water and sanitation trust fund Nairobi, 11 October 2005 – Norway will grant UN-HABITAT’s Water and Sanitation Trust Fund nearly US$ 7 million in 2005 to help alleviate the water and sanitation crisis confronting millions of slum dwellers across Africa and Asia. Iranian Delegation visits UN-HABITAT Nairobi, 10 October 2005 – A delegation from Iran consisting of government officials and representatives of the International Art and Architecture Research Association (IAARA) visited UN-HABITAT headquarters on Friday and met the Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. Colourful Ceremony Marks WHD in Kenya Athi River, 4 October 2005 — It was pomp and glamour as dances, poem recitals and performance by a local television drama group took the centre stage during the World Habitat Day national celebrations held at Athi River, a satellite town near the Kenyan capital Nairobi. World Habitat Day observances Jakarta, October 3, 2005 – World Habitat Day was celebrated in towns and cities around the world on Monday at ceremonies, seminars and meetings attended by many government and local authority representatives to reflect on the state of human settlements, especially the living conditions of the urban poor and their basic right to adequate shelter.