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UNHSP/02/02
Tragic
loss of Mayor Celso Daniel of Santo André, Brazil, friend
of the urban poor
Nairobi/New York, 21 January
2002: On learning of the death of His Worship Celso Augusto
Daniel, the Mayor of Santo André, Brazil, Mrs. Anna
Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, condemned
the killing and presented her condolences to his family,
to the people of the city and to the Government of Brazil.
"The senseless killing of Mayor Celso
Daniel is a tragic loss not only to his family and to the
people of his city but to all those concerned with improving
the state of cities world-wide," said Mrs. Tibaijuka.
"Mayor Celso Daniel was a man with a vision. He understood
the importance of prioritizing the needs of the urban poor.
Under his leadership, the City of Santo André became
a leading example of a well managed city. In losing him,
not only have the poor of Santo André lost a true
friend, but UN-Habitat has lost a true champion of the inclusive
city."
Mayor Celso Augusto Daniel, who was kidnapped
last Friday, was found dead on the morning of 20 January.
Mayor Daniel was a civil engineer who entered civic politics
and was elected Mayor for the first time in 1989. He was
re-elected in 1997 for a second term and again in 2000 when
he received over 70% of the votes.
In June of 2001, during Istanbul +5, the Special
Session held by the UN General Assembly in New York, Mayor
Celso Daniel was part of a delegation of 50 Mayors and Presidents
of world associations of local authorities that met with
the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General
Mr. Kofi Annan. Mayor Daniel also represented Santo André
and Brazil at the Special Session's Thematic Committee where
he presented his city's successful experience.
Mayor Daniel was an active partner of
the United Nations Urban Management Programme for many years.
He also made significant efforts to promote the UN - Habitat
Global Campaign on Urban Governance and the Global Campaign
for Secure Tenure in Brazil, and in the entire Latin American
region. Mayor Daniel's contributions in promoting pro-poor
city consultations, city development strategies, and social
inclusion on a sustained basis have been exemplary for cities
all over the world.
Following the UN Conference on Human Settlements,
Habitat II, in 1996, the municipality of Santo André
was one of the first to successfully promote an Integrated
Programme of Social Inclusion as a strategy to address growing
poverty in the city. This programme addresses economic development
through an integrated package consisting of amongst other
things, micro-credit facilities and cooperatives; urban
development through slum upgrading; social development through
health; vocational training programmes, and cultural development
through a citizenship programme. It has served to optimize
and focus resources for anti-poverty efforts. A recent example
of the success of the programme is that it has improved
the living conditions of at least 16,000 inhabitants in
four favelas through improved water supply and sanitation,
drainage, home improvements, and other benefits.
Subsequently, the Mayor was instrumental in
establishing and designing a comprehensive Cities Alliance
City Development Strategy (CDS) for Santo André together
with UN-Habitat and the World Bank. This involves working
with an inter-municipal consortium, consisting of seven
municipalities from the greater ABC region, that allows
for better regional economic development planning. The major
objective of the CDS was the preparation of an economic
action plan, containing guidelines for priority programmes
and projects capable of contributing to the revitalization
of the ABC region. The personal intervention of Mayor Daniel
ensured that the CDS process was more participatory and
pro-poor.
"Mayor Celso Daniel was instrumental
in promoting pro-poor urban development strategies in his
region," said Mrs. Tibaijuka. "To overcome this
tragic loss, all of us, local leaders and members of the
international community must continue his work in the cities
and towns of Latin America and all over the world. Ensuring
the participation of the poor in urban development is the
best way to honour him and frustrate the intentions of those
responsible for this heinous crime."
For
further information, please contact:
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Sharad Shankardass, Spokesperson
or Ms. Zahra A. Hassan
Media & Press Relations Unit
UNCHS (Habitat)
Tel: (254 2) 623153
Fax: (254 2) 624060
E-mail: habitat.press@unhabitat.org
Website: www.unhabitat.org
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