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 and in paragraph 222 of the Habitat Agenda. Click here to read the General Assembly Resolution 32/162 of of 19 December 1977 and the Habitat Agenda. GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME Membership in 2005*** (58 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** *** Information received from the Economic and Social Council as at December 2004 **Vacancy to be filled in January 2005 Bureau Members The Following Officers were elected during GC/20: 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)