Human settlements : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

 

Human settlements

A Report of the Commission on Human Settlements The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974, containing the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, containing the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, and 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975 on development and international economic co-operation, Recalling also its resolutions 32/162 of 19 December 1977 on institutional arrangements for international co-operation in the field of human settlements and 34/116 of 14 December 1979 on the strengthening of human settlements activities, Conscious of the very substantial gap between the resources available through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the needs of developing countries requesting assistance from the Centre, Having considered the report of the Commission on Human Settlements on the work of its eighth session,

1. Takes note of the report of the Commission on Human Settlements on the work of its eighth session;

2. Takes note with appreciation of the progress which the Commission and its secretariat, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), have continued to make in providing guidance and assistance to Governments in their efforts to provide adequate shelter and services to their people, particularly the poor and disadvantaged;

3. Calls upon all Governments to accord the requisite priority in their development and development assistance programmes to human settlements activities as a proved means of promoting economic and social development, as well as to the fair distribution of the benefits of such development to all segments of the population;

4. Takes note of resolution 8/12 of 8 May 1985 of the Commission on Human Settlements and, in that context, urges the international community, including multilateral institutions and agencies, to consider, as appropriate, more flexible strategies in lending for human settlements projects and programmes;

5. Commends those Governments and others that have made voluntary financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, particularly those that have done so on a regular basis, and appeals to those that have not contributed to do so at the earliest opportunity;

6. Decides, in accordance with resolution 8/4 of 8 May 1985 of the Commission on Human Settlements, to designate the first Monday of October of every year as "World Habitat Day".

B

Biennial Cycle of Sessions of the Commission on Human Settlements

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 32/162 of 19 December 1977, by which it provided for the establishment of the Commission on Human Settlements and specified the duration of the term of office of members of the Commission, Recalling also its decision 38/429 of 19 December 1983 on the rationalization of the work of the Second Committee and its resolution 39/170 B of 17 December 1984, in which it required the Commission on Human Settlements to consider adopting a biennial cycle of sessions, Noting with satisfaction Commission on Human Settlements resolution 8/1 of 10 May 1985 on a biennial cycle of sessions for the Commission, Having considered the recommendation of the Commission that the duration of the term of office of the members of the Commission should be changed from three to four years in recognition of the change to a biennial cycle of sessions,

1. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Human Settlements that, beginning in 1987, its sessions will, on an experimental basis, be held only in odd-numbered years;

2. Endorses the decision of the Commission on Human Settlements to hold a special session of shorter duration in 1988 devoted exclusively to ensuring effective follow-up to the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless which, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 37/221 of 20 December 1982, will be observed in 1987;

3. Decides that, beginning with the terms of office commencing on 1 January 1987, membership in the Commission on Human Settlements will be for a term of four years instead of three.

C

Co-ordination of human settlements programmes within the United Nations system

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General concerning the co-ordination of human settlements programmes within the United Nations system, Taking note of the view expressed on co-ordination in resolution 8/13 of 8 May 1985 of the Commission on Human Settlements; Requests the Secretary-General to ensure effective participation of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) in the work of the Administrative Committee on Co-ordination and its subsidiary machinery relevant to its mandate, as contained in General Assembly resolution 32/162 of 19 December 1977, taking into account Assembly resolutions 32/197 of 20 December 1977, 35/77 C of 5 December 1980 and 37/223 C of 20 December 1982, and to keep the matter under review for consideration by the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session in 1987 on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into consideration the follow-up of the cross-organizational programme analysis in human settlements by the Committee on Programme and Co-ordination..