WUF11/3/04 Best Practices Award Launched for Latin America Barcelona 14 September 2004: Iberoamerican and Caribbean Forum on Best Practices, established in 1997, with the support of the Government of Spain, to identify, analyze, document and disseminate Best Practices in the region will launch a regional Best Practices Award with the sponsorship of the city of Medellin, Colombia, in a parallel event in room 123 at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 14 at the World Urban Forum. The Iberoamerican Forum is a network of organizations dedicated to better understand and transfer successful experiences in improving the living conditions of the populations of Latin America and the Caribbean. To achieve this goal, the Forum works directly with the implementers of projects related to the improvement of the environment, the reduction of violence, social inclusion, job creation, housing and land use, education, disaster management, etc. The Forum is directed by a Secretariat composed of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UN-HABITAT, the ministry of Housing of the Government of Spain and one representative of four sub-regional nodes: El Agora for the Southern Cone Countries, The Brazilian Institute for Municipal Administration, The Habitat Colombia Foundation for the Adino countries and CENVI, of Mexico for Central America and the Caribbean. Apart from establishing a regional award, the Forum produces case studies, newsletters, Best Practices Summaries and holds international conferences and thematic work-groups to promote the exchange of information and technologies between Iberoamericam and Caribbean cities. For further information, please contact: Sharad Shankardass, Spokesperson & Head, Press & Media Relations Unit or Ms. Zahra A. Hassan, Tel: (254 020) 623153, 623151, Fax: (254 020) 624060, E-mail: habitat.press@unhabitat.org, Website: www.unhabitat.org or Contacts: Lucelena Betancur: direccion@fundacionhabitatcolombia Jose Luis Nicolas jlnicolas@mviv.es