Record Attendance Expected at World Urban Forum
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Monday, March 22nd 2010 | Rio de Janeiro Executive Director launches groundbreaking youth report At the joint opening ceremony of the World Urban Youth Assembly and Gender Equality Action Assembly on Friday, UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, launched the State of the Urban Youth Report 2010/2011, the first of its kind to be produced by the agency. In her opening address, the Executive Director said: “I do hope that governments, civil society, private sector and youth can learn from this important work in the recognition of youth as a fundamental in the development of our towns and cities. Young people today are the most important asset we have.” Half of the world’s population is now under 25 years of age and predominantly urban, yet youth exclusion is a major feature of the urban divide, which is the main theme of this week’s World Urban Forum. The report, entitled Leveling the Playing Field, combines the latest academic and policy research with new statistics from UN-HABITAT’s Global The Forum has attracted a record number of registrations Photo © Jonathan Andrews Urban Observatory. The views of over 700 young people in five representative cities were collected through a survey and local discussion groups, to Record attendance expected identify the factors behind unequal opportunities in the economic, social, political and cultural spheres. at World Urban Forum The cities featured in the survey were; Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Mumbai (India), Kingston (Jamaica), Nairobi many descriptions. Some are centres of rapid industrial (Kenya) and Lagos (Nigeria). growth and wealth creation, often accompanied by The principal author of the report, Professor 21,000 register harmful waste and pollution. Others are characterized Oyebanji Oyeyinka, Director of UN-HABITAT’s by stagnation, urban decay and rising social exclusion Monitoring and Research Division, said it was for world’s leading and intolerance,” said UN Secretary-General Ban important that research was conducted with youths Ki-moon in a foreword to the new report from themselves to gain their perspectives on different urban event UN-HABITAT The State of the World’s Cities aspects of life. “Young people need to be engaged in 2010/2011. the governance of their own country, while also having President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil will According to the latest research carried in the the options of both formal and informal education,” today open the world’s biggest global meeting on cities report, a total of 227 million people in the world said Professor Oyeyinka. with a record number of delegates expected in Rio de have moved out of slum conditions since 2000 Erik Berg, Senior Advisor at the Royal Ministry of Janeiro. meaning governments have collectively surpassed the Foreign Affairs Norway, whose support and dedication The fifth session of the World Urban Forum has Millennium Development Goal on slums more than for many years has provided extensive funds for attracted over 21,000 registrants including high two times over. UN-HABITAT in particular for the Partners and profile attendees such as President Yoweri Museveni But it cautions that the absolute number of slum Youth Section, emphasized the importance of the of Uganda, Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifah of dwellers has increased from 776.7 million in 2000 to report in its scrutinizing of the problems relating to Bahrain, Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon, 827.6 million in 2010. This means that 55 million new youth inequality and poverty. Vice-President Noli de Castro of the Philippines, and slum dwellers have been added to the global urban “Young people today are increasingly the leaders of US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, population since 2000. today,” said Mr. Berg. “The youth around the world Shaun Donovan. “Both scenarios point to the urgent need for new, recognize the problems and challenges they have to High on the agenda this year will be the rebuilding more sustainable approaches to urban development,” face, and in many cases know the solutions.” of Haiti in the wake of a devastating earthquake in said Ban Ki-moon. “Both argue for greener, more January that claimed more than 230,000 lives. resilient and inclusive towns and cities that can help The broad theme of the World Urban Forum, combat climate change and resolve age-old urban Bridging the Urban Divide, is aimed at narrowing the gaps inequalities.” in many areas of everyday city life including the gulf Delegates and speakers will seek to develop such between rich and poor; the gulf between governments new approaches to urban development through five and city authorities; and the gulf between government, days of presentations, roundtable discussions, training local authorities and the law when it comes to gender sessions, dialogues and networking events. Up-to-date and youth matters. details of the programme will be carried each day in “The emerging picture of the 21st century city fits the World Urban Forum Daily News. For Forum highlights go to www.unhabitat.org Anna Tibaijuka and Erik Berg Photo © UN-HABITAT Today’s Schedule - 2 · The Delegates’ View - 5 · Interview: Mayoress of Alicante - 8 PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME AT A GLANCEPROVISIONAL PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE as of 2 March 2010 as of 2 March 2010 Time Friday, 19 March Saturday, 20 MarchTime Monday,Friday, 1922 March Saturday, 20 March Tuesday,Monday, 23 March 22 March Tuesday, 23 March Wednesday, 24 March Wednesday, 24 March Thursday, 25 March Thursday,Friday, 2625 MarchMarch Time Friday, 26 March Time 2 WORLD URBAN FORUM DAILY NEWS | Monday, March 22nd 2010 GENDER WORLD GENDER WORLD GENDER WORLD GENDER WORLD EQUALITY URBAN EQUALITY URBAN EQUALITY URBAN EQUALITY URBAN ACTION YOUTH ACTION YOUTH ACTION YOUTH ACTION YOUTH Rio Highlights Today’sASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY ScheduleASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY PICK OF THE DAY SIGHTS 08:00 - 08:30 08:00 - 08:30 08:00 - 08:30 08:00 - 08:30 Sugar Loaf Mountain Caucus meetings Caucus Caucusmeetings meetings Caucus meetings Caucus meetings Caucus meetings Caucus meetings CaucusCaucus meetings meetings Caucus meetings One of Rio’s dazzling icons, Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) offers a vision of Rio at its Mayors’ Roundtable most disarming. Following a steep ascent up the mountain, you’ll be rewarded with08:30 - 09:00The panel will discuss how social 08:30 - 09:00 08:30 - 09:00 08:30 - 09:00 superb views of Rio’s gorgeous shoreline, and the city planted among the green inclusion and urban infrastructure can improve access and promote inclusive peaks. For prime views of the cidade maravilhosa, go around sunset on a clear day. 09:00 - 09:30 09:00 - 09:30 09:00 - 09:30 09:00 - 09:30 cities, taking into account the needs of Opening Opening FOOD all different urban actors. The discussion 09:30 - 10:00 Plenary 09:30 - 10:00 Plenary 09:30 - 10:00 09:30 - 10:00 AlbaMar will be the continuation of the Mayors’ Roundtable at WUFOpening 4 that discussed the Opening Perched over the water, this old favourite offers excellent views of the Baía de Dialogue 1: Dialogue 2: Dialogue 1: DialogueDialogue 3: 2: Dialogue 3: Dialogue 6: Dialogue 6: Group OpeningGroup Ceremony and Opening Ceremony and Dialogue 4: Dialogue Dialogue4: 5: Dialogue 5: 10:00 - 10:30role of mayors and local authorities in Sessions10:00 - 10:30 Taking Forward the SessionsRight to Bridging the Urban Divide: Taking Forward the Right toEqual AccessBridging to Shelterthe Urban and Divide: Equal Access to Shelter and Sustainable Urbanization: Sustainable Urbanization: 10:00 - 10:30 10:00 - 10:30 Guanabara and Niterói and serves up tasty seafood dishes. Favourites include Discussions DiscussionsIntroduction of Debate Introduction of Debate Cultural Diversity in Cities CulturalGovernance Diversity in andCities Participation Governance and Participation the search for harmonious urbanization, the City Inclusive Cities Trainingthe City Basic UrbanInclusive Services Cities Training Basic UrbanTraining Services Business Cities in aTraining Changing ClimateBusiness Training BusinessCities in a Changing Climate Training Business shrimp curry. Consultations Consultations Consultations Consultations Consultations Consultations stressing the relevance of decentralization Events Events Events Caucus Events Caucus Events Caucus Events Caucus Praça Marechal Âncora 186, Centro. T. +55 21 2240 8378 10:30 - 11:00in promotingBreak urban harmony andBreak social 10:30 - 11:00 NO EVENTS 21 March Sunday, Break Break NO EVENTS 21 March Sunday, 10:30 - 11:00 10:30 - 11:00 inclusion. The session will examine criteria WUF5 Concluding Session WUF5 Concluding Session CULTURE and Closing and Closing 11:00 - 11:30that define success,Break identify common Break11:00 - 11:30 Break Break 11:00 - 11:30 11:00 - 11:30 Museu do Arte Contemporânea (MAC) factors, and consider opportunities for “From WUF 5 “From WUF 5 Designed by Brazil’s most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer, the MAC has a wild developing effective integration policies and to WUF 6” to WUF 6” curvilinear design that blooms like a flower (or more prosaically, a flying saucer)11:30 - 12:00programmes that lead to inclusive cities. It 11:30 - 12:00 11:30 - 12:00 11:30 - 12:00 Group Group against sweeping bay views. Unfortunately, the exhibits inside the museum are will also give an opportunity to takePlenary stock Opening of Exhibition Plenary Opening of Exhibition somewhat less inspiring. To get to the MAC from the Niterói ferry terminal, turn Discussions Discussions 12:00 - 12:30of legislation, policies and bylaws passed, 12:00 - 12:30 Lunch/Side Events Lunch/Side Events Lunch/Side Events Lunch/Side Events Lunch/Side Events Lunch/Side Events 12:00 - 12:30 12:00 - 12:30 right as you leave and walk about 50m across to the bus terminal in the middle of discussed, or debated in various fora on the Session Sessions Session Sessions the road; a 47B minibus will drop you at the museum door.