The Governing Council Overview In its resolution 56/206 of 21 December 2001, the General Assembly decided to transform the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements into the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT. The Assembly also decided, in the same resolution, to transform the Commission on Human Settlements to the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT. The Governing Council, which was also made into a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, reports to the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and provides overall policy guidance, direction and supervision to UN-HABITAT. The objectives, functions and responsibilities of the Governing Council are set out in General Assembly resolution 32/162 of 19 December 1977 and in paragraph 222 of the Habitat Agenda. GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME Membership in 2005 - 2008 (58 members) The Governing Council consists of 58 members, each elected for a four-year term: 16 from African States, 13 from Asian States, 6 from Eastern European States, 10 from Latin American and Caribbean States and 13 from Western European and other States. At present, the Governing Council is composed of the following members. AFRICAN STATES (16) Burkina Faso (2006) Burundi (2006) Congo (2007) Democratic Republic of Congo (2006) Ghana (2008) Kenya (2007) Libya Arab Jamahiriya (2008) Malawi (2006) Nigeria (2007) Rwanda (2008) Sierra Leone (2006) Senegal (2006) South Africa (2007) Swaziland (2007) Tanzania (2008) Uganda (2008) LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN STATES (10) Argentina (2006) Antigua and Barbuda (2008) Brazil (2006) Chile (2006) Costa Rica (2007) Ecuador (2006) Haiti (2008) Mexico (2007) Paraguay (2007) Trinidad and Tobago(2007) EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES (6) Belarus (2007) Bulgaria (2007) Poland (2006) Russian Federation (2006) Czech Republic (2008) Slovakia (2008) WESTERN EUROPEAN AND OTHER STATES (13) Belgium (2008) Canada (2008) France (2008) Germany (2007) Greece (2007) Israel (2007) Netherlands (2006) Spain (2007) Turkey (2006) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2006) United States of America (2006) Sweden (2008) Norway (2008) ASIAN STATES (13) Bangladesh (2008) China (2008) Indonesia (2006) India (2007) Iran, Islamic Republic of (2006) Japan (2006) Jordan (2007) Pakistan (2006) Philippines (2007) Saudia Arabia (2007) Sri Lanka (2007) United Arab Emirates (2008) One Vacant seat The membership of the Governing Council was determined by elections held at the 7th plenary meeting of the Economic and Social Council, held on 3 May 2000, the 4th plenary meeting held on 29 April 2002, the 41st plenary meeting held on 26 July 2002, the 51st plenary meeting held on 31 October 2003, the 9th plenary meeting held on 29 April 2003, the 11th and 12th plenary meetings held on 4 May 2004, and the 15th plenary meeting held on 23 June 2004. Governing Council Bureau Members The Following Officers were elected during 20th Governing Council: President: Mr. Petr Kopriva (Czech Republic) Vice-Presidents: Mr. José Luis Casal (Argentina) Mr. Bernd Braun (Germany) Ms. Rosalinda Valenton Tirona (Philippines) Rapporteur: Ms. Edna Deimi Tobi (Nigeria) Past Members of the Bureau of the Governing Council  Contact: Rolf Wichmann Secretary to the Governing Council, and Chief, External Relations and Inter-Governmental Affairs Secretariat of the Governing Council, External Relations and Inter-Governmental Affairs UN-HABITAT P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi 00100, Kenya Tel: (254 20) 7623066 Fax: (254 20) 7624175 rolf.wichmann@unhabitat.org