UN-HABITAT
Page 1 of 4
12th Session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD-12)
New York, USA, 19 April 2004
Statement by
Mrs. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka,
Executive Director, UN-HABITAT
Page 2 of 4
Your Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange
Honourable Minister Borge Brende, Chair of CSD-12
Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, Dr. Klaus Toepfer, Mr. Ocampo,
Distinguished Delegates,
Excellencies Ladies and gentlemen,
I am honoured and privileged to participate in this inaugural session of CSD-12. The
presence of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange bears testimony to the importance
of the critical development issues to be discussed.
I would like to begin by first congratulating Hon. Borge Brende for bringing in new
vision, vitality and innovation to the CSD process. The extensive consultations
conducted with all stakeholders over the past months have generated a new political
momentum and enhanced credibility. Thanks to his efforts, the CSD process is now
much more broad-based and action-oriented than before. I am indeed gratified to have
been afforded an opportunity to support him, albeit in a small manner, in this process.
The Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
represent a global consensus and commitments. The core concern is to bring the vast
majority of the world?s population out of a poverty trap that robs them of their health,
dignity and aspirations for fulfilling their human potential.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In a world where some 1.4 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.7 billion people
lack access to basic sanitation, what could be a more direct attack on poverty than to
enable the poor to access these vital, life-sustaining services that could protect their
health and improve their productivity? (Goal 7 ? target 10)
In a world where 2 million children die, needlessly, every year, for the lack of water or
for its poor quality, what could be a better starting point to reduce child mortality? (Goal
4)
In a world where the poor pay more for water than the rich both within and between
cities, and millions of girl children are forced to trade education for collecting water, or
drop out from schools for the lack of even minimal sanitation facilities, what could be a
better way to promote universal primary education (Goal 2) or gender equality and
empowering of women? (Goal 3)
And in a world where nearly a billion people live in slums in overcrowded
conditions without access to basic services, what would be a concrete way to make
significant improvements in their lives (Goal 7 ? target 11) other than by providing
them with access to water and sanitation?
Page 3 of 4
This approach was given further impetus in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. In
paragraph 18 of the political Declaration adopted by Heads of States, the W in WEHAB
(Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Biodiversity) was further amplified to stand for
Water, Sanitation and Shelter. The world leaders recognized that MDGs have to be
delivered in given geographical spaces or locality. This holistic approach has now been
operationalized by the CSD by adopting water, sanitation and human settlements as an
integral cluster. It is great progress and value added.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Human settlements provide a concrete context for this action. The Struggle for achieving
the Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation will have to be waged in
human settlements - in our cities, towns and villages. It is at this level where actions have
to be coordinated and managed. It is at this level that policy initiatives become an
operational reality and an eminently political affair. It is here that local actions must and
can deliver global goals.
Cities and towns will absorb 95 per cent of the world?s expected population growth. With
rapid urbanization, there is also growing poverty and feminization of poverty in cities.
Women pay a heavy price in procuring water for their families through daily drudgery
and lost opportunities.
Urban poverty is vividly manifested in the slums. At present 930 million people live in
slums. If the trends continue, 1.5 billion people will live in slums by the year 2020. Most
slum dwellers are excluded from the attributes of urban life that remain a monopoly of a
privileged minority ? political voice, decent housing, safety and the rule of law, education
and health.
Provision of basic services and Slum upgrading must become core business for local and
national governments alike, and should receive adequate support by international
financial institutions and development agencies.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and gentlemen,
We all know that a business-as-usual approach will not be enough. We need a
fundamental change in our approach ? we need a strategy that is workable, realistic
and will make a difference in the lives of the people.
Unquestionably, the commitment of policy makers to human settlements will be the first
step. The goals may be global but they must be implemented locally in human
settlements, where the people live and shelter and services are required. The United
Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) and The Poverty Reduction
Strategy Papers (PRSPs) at country level need to prioritize water and sanitation and slum
upgrading. At UN-HABITAT, we are moving to localize the MDGs at city and municipal
levels.
Second, recognition of water as a right and one of the most fundamental conditions for
survival is critical. UN-HABITAT is focusing on this issue through the Global Campaign
Page 4 of 4
on Secure Tenure and through the Housing Rights Programme in cooperation with United
Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR).
Finally, I must come to the all-important question of financing water, sanitation and slum
upgrading in our cities. The finance gap is huge, and requires close partnership of UN
agencies with the international financing institutions to supplement domestic resources.
The Water for Asian Cities Programme, announced at the Johannesburg Summit,
between UN-HABITAT and the Asian Development Bank, is an example of such new
types of partnerships, focusing on innovative investment mechanisms for the benefit of
the 700 million people in Asian cities. UN-HABITAT and partners are also making
efforts to emulate the ADB example in Africa and Latin America. Efforts are also
underway to develop a slum upgrading facility to field test innovative pro poor housing
financing mechanisms.
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
The CSD 12 could turn a new page and become a global springboard for local action.
This first Review Session under the Commission?s new Implementation Cycle, provides
us an important opportunity to catalyze this action. UN-HABITAT stands ready to play
its role in this process. Under the able and inspiring leadership of Chairman Brende, the
world is set to join forces in building a global consensus for meeting critical challenges of
this century.
I wish you successful deliberations and thank you for your kind attention and support.
12th Session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD-12)
New York, USA, 19 April 2004
Statement by
Mrs. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka,
Executive Director, UN-HABITAT
Page 2 of 4
Your Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange
Honourable Minister Borge Brende, Chair of CSD-12
Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, Dr. Klaus Toepfer, Mr. Ocampo,
Distinguished Delegates,
Excellencies Ladies and gentlemen,
I am honoured and privileged to participate in this inaugural session of CSD-12. The
presence of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange bears testimony to the importance
of the critical development issues to be discussed.
I would like to begin by first congratulating Hon. Borge Brende for bringing in new
vision, vitality and innovation to the CSD process. The extensive consultations
conducted with all stakeholders over the past months have generated a new political
momentum and enhanced credibility. Thanks to his efforts, the CSD process is now
much more broad-based and action-oriented than before. I am indeed gratified to have
been afforded an opportunity to support him, albeit in a small manner, in this process.
The Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
represent a global consensus and commitments. The core concern is to bring the vast
majority of the world?s population out of a poverty trap that robs them of their health,
dignity and aspirations for fulfilling their human potential.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In a world where some 1.4 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.7 billion people
lack access to basic sanitation, what could be a more direct attack on poverty than to
enable the poor to access these vital, life-sustaining services that could protect their
health and improve their productivity? (Goal 7 ? target 10)
In a world where 2 million children die, needlessly, every year, for the lack of water or
for its poor quality, what could be a better starting point to reduce child mortality? (Goal
4)
In a world where the poor pay more for water than the rich both within and between
cities, and millions of girl children are forced to trade education for collecting water, or
drop out from schools for the lack of even minimal sanitation facilities, what could be a
better way to promote universal primary education (Goal 2) or gender equality and
empowering of women? (Goal 3)
And in a world where nearly a billion people live in slums in overcrowded
conditions without access to basic services, what would be a concrete way to make
significant improvements in their lives (Goal 7 ? target 11) other than by providing
them with access to water and sanitation?
Page 3 of 4
This approach was given further impetus in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. In
paragraph 18 of the political Declaration adopted by Heads of States, the W in WEHAB
(Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Biodiversity) was further amplified to stand for
Water, Sanitation and Shelter. The world leaders recognized that MDGs have to be
delivered in given geographical spaces or locality. This holistic approach has now been
operationalized by the CSD by adopting water, sanitation and human settlements as an
integral cluster. It is great progress and value added.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Human settlements provide a concrete context for this action. The Struggle for achieving
the Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation will have to be waged in
human settlements - in our cities, towns and villages. It is at this level where actions have
to be coordinated and managed. It is at this level that policy initiatives become an
operational reality and an eminently political affair. It is here that local actions must and
can deliver global goals.
Cities and towns will absorb 95 per cent of the world?s expected population growth. With
rapid urbanization, there is also growing poverty and feminization of poverty in cities.
Women pay a heavy price in procuring water for their families through daily drudgery
and lost opportunities.
Urban poverty is vividly manifested in the slums. At present 930 million people live in
slums. If the trends continue, 1.5 billion people will live in slums by the year 2020. Most
slum dwellers are excluded from the attributes of urban life that remain a monopoly of a
privileged minority ? political voice, decent housing, safety and the rule of law, education
and health.
Provision of basic services and Slum upgrading must become core business for local and
national governments alike, and should receive adequate support by international
financial institutions and development agencies.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and gentlemen,
We all know that a business-as-usual approach will not be enough. We need a
fundamental change in our approach ? we need a strategy that is workable, realistic
and will make a difference in the lives of the people.
Unquestionably, the commitment of policy makers to human settlements will be the first
step. The goals may be global but they must be implemented locally in human
settlements, where the people live and shelter and services are required. The United
Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) and The Poverty Reduction
Strategy Papers (PRSPs) at country level need to prioritize water and sanitation and slum
upgrading. At UN-HABITAT, we are moving to localize the MDGs at city and municipal
levels.
Second, recognition of water as a right and one of the most fundamental conditions for
survival is critical. UN-HABITAT is focusing on this issue through the Global Campaign
Page 4 of 4
on Secure Tenure and through the Housing Rights Programme in cooperation with United
Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR).
Finally, I must come to the all-important question of financing water, sanitation and slum
upgrading in our cities. The finance gap is huge, and requires close partnership of UN
agencies with the international financing institutions to supplement domestic resources.
The Water for Asian Cities Programme, announced at the Johannesburg Summit,
between UN-HABITAT and the Asian Development Bank, is an example of such new
types of partnerships, focusing on innovative investment mechanisms for the benefit of
the 700 million people in Asian cities. UN-HABITAT and partners are also making
efforts to emulate the ADB example in Africa and Latin America. Efforts are also
underway to develop a slum upgrading facility to field test innovative pro poor housing
financing mechanisms.
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
The CSD 12 could turn a new page and become a global springboard for local action.
This first Review Session under the Commission?s new Implementation Cycle, provides
us an important opportunity to catalyze this action. UN-HABITAT stands ready to play
its role in this process. Under the able and inspiring leadership of Chairman Brende, the
world is set to join forces in building a global consensus for meeting critical challenges of
this century.
I wish you successful deliberations and thank you for your kind attention and support.