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”.
“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.”
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét