Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements
Statement on Behalf of the
Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements
Delivered at CSD -13 by Hon Sylvia Masebo, M.P.,
Minister of Local Government and Housing, Zambia and outgoing Chairperson
of the Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements
Please check against delivery
Chair, Heads of Delegations, Distinguished Delegates,
· I recently had the pleasure of chairing the Commonwealth Consultative
Group on Human Settlements, which was held on 6th April in the wings of
the 20th Sessio n of the Governing Council of UN Habitat in Nairobi.
· The CCGHS is a Commonwealth initiative to assist member countries to
implement the Habitat Agenda and to attain the Millennium Development
Goals.
· At its last session in Nairobi, the Group discussed the priorities it would
like to see addressed by this session of the UN Commission on
Sustainable Development and the forthcoming review of the
implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The members
asked me to convey key points of their deliberations.
· Firstly, we recognised that shelter is the foundation of human dignity and
that housing and human settlements development is about building
people?s lives. There can be no sustainable development without
sustainable urbanisation. Adequate shelter, with secure tenure and
access to essential services, is deeply connected to achievement of the
millennium development goals, including those on poverty, education,
health, water and sanitation. Something like one in six people live in
what amounts to health - and life -threatening environments. In order to
make progress, we need an integrated, holistic, debate on these issues
that puts human settlements at the very heart of the development
agenda;
· Secondly, the members recognised that financing is an important
concern in implementing international goals. In this context, they
recognised that debt was a significant issue, and a major burden, for
least developed countries, since the servicing of debt takes a great deal
of resources that could otherwise be directed towards placing these
countries on a higher growth trajectory and thereby assisting them to
achieve the MDGs. It is important that all HIPCs receive up to 100 per
cent multilateral debt relief after they reach completion point and for the
relief to entail additional and predictable long-term financing for the
MDGs.
? The Commonwealth Consultative Group on the Human Settlements, was
of the considered view that Governments should focus on these
concerns in their deliberations this week, and in their preparations for the
review of Millennium Development Goals later in the year.
Thank you.
Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements
Delivered at CSD -13 by Hon Sylvia Masebo, M.P.,
Minister of Local Government and Housing, Zambia and outgoing Chairperson
of the Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements
Please check against delivery
Chair, Heads of Delegations, Distinguished Delegates,
· I recently had the pleasure of chairing the Commonwealth Consultative
Group on Human Settlements, which was held on 6th April in the wings of
the 20th Sessio n of the Governing Council of UN Habitat in Nairobi.
· The CCGHS is a Commonwealth initiative to assist member countries to
implement the Habitat Agenda and to attain the Millennium Development
Goals.
· At its last session in Nairobi, the Group discussed the priorities it would
like to see addressed by this session of the UN Commission on
Sustainable Development and the forthcoming review of the
implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The members
asked me to convey key points of their deliberations.
· Firstly, we recognised that shelter is the foundation of human dignity and
that housing and human settlements development is about building
people?s lives. There can be no sustainable development without
sustainable urbanisation. Adequate shelter, with secure tenure and
access to essential services, is deeply connected to achievement of the
millennium development goals, including those on poverty, education,
health, water and sanitation. Something like one in six people live in
what amounts to health - and life -threatening environments. In order to
make progress, we need an integrated, holistic, debate on these issues
that puts human settlements at the very heart of the development
agenda;
· Secondly, the members recognised that financing is an important
concern in implementing international goals. In this context, they
recognised that debt was a significant issue, and a major burden, for
least developed countries, since the servicing of debt takes a great deal
of resources that could otherwise be directed towards placing these
countries on a higher growth trajectory and thereby assisting them to
achieve the MDGs. It is important that all HIPCs receive up to 100 per
cent multilateral debt relief after they reach completion point and for the
relief to entail additional and predictable long-term financing for the
MDGs.
? The Commonwealth Consultative Group on the Human Settlements, was
of the considered view that Governments should focus on these
concerns in their deliberations this week, and in their preparations for the
review of Millennium Development Goals later in the year.
Thank you.