2015-10-05 11:13:00

UN Secretary General releases message on World Habitat Day


(Vatican Radio)  United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on the world "to reflect on the state of human settlements" in a message released for World Habitat Day. 

Pope Francis late last month addressed the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations, calling them to greater awareness for the “right of the environment”. 

Listen to Devin Watkins' report:

“Public Spaces for All” is the theme of World Habitat Day 2015.  The theme was chosen to call attention to the frequently overlooked importance of public spaces.

In a message released for the occasion, UN General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon called public spaces “vibrant, beating hearts of the world’s towns and cities.”

“Public spaces”, he writes, “are crucial for poor and vulnerable citizens. Improving access to them, and making them safe for women and girls, increases equity, promotes inclusion and combats discrimination. High-quality public spaces encourage people to communicate and collaborate with each other, and to participate in public life.”

World Habitat Day was instituted by the United Nations “to reflect on the state of human settlements and on what we want the future of cities to look like”.

“Urban resilience is a sustainable development priority.  All actors need to work together to save lives, protect assets, and guarantee services when disasters strike.  Planning is essential.”

“On this World Habitat Day let us commit to making our cities and towns accessible to all, resilient to disasters, socially inclusive, economically productive, and environmentally sustainable.”








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