Adequate Shelter
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World Habitat Day World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986. The purpose of the day is to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter. This year, it will be celebrated on Monday, 6 October 2014. The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns. This year, the United Nations chose the theme Voices from Slums. The campaign aims to recognise lives in slums and give a voice to slum dwellers to improve their living conditions. Habitat Scroll of Honour The Habitat Scroll of Honour awards have been given out by the United Human Settlements Programme (UNHSP) since 1986. The award acknowledges initiatives that make remarkable contributions to fields related to human habitats. Previous World Habitat Days Year Theme Venue 2014 Voices from Slums 2013 Urban Mobility 2012 Changing Cities, Building Opportunities Islamabad, Pakistan 2011 Cities and Climate Change Aguascalientes, Mexico 2010 Better City, Better Life Shanghai, China Planning our urban future Washington, D.C. 2009 2008 Harmonious Cities Luanda, Angola 2007 A safe city is a just city The Hague, Netherlands Development, (SEDESOL) on "Rescue of Public Monterrey, Mexico Spaces Programme" Previous World Habitat Days Year Theme Venue 2006 Cities, magnets of hope Naples Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in Far East Federal Region, President of the Kazan United Cities and Local Government Euro-Asia Regional Section 2005 The Millennium Development Goals and the City Jakarta 2004 Cities - Engines of Rural Development Nairobi 2003 Water and Sanitation for Cities Rio de Janeiro 2002 City-to-City Cooperation Brussels 2001 Cities without Slums Fukuoka 2000 Women in Urban Governance Jamaica 1999 Cities for All Dalian 1998 Safer Cities Dubai 1997 Future Cities Bonn, Germany 1996 Urbanization, Citizenship and Human Solidarity Budapest, Hungary Previous World Habitat Days Year Theme Venue 1995 Our Neighbourhood Curitiba 1994 Home and the Family Dakar, Senegal 1993 Women and Shelter Development New York City 1992 Shelter and Sustainable Development New York City 1991 Shelter and the Living Environment Hiroshima 1990 Shelter and Urbanization London 1989 Shelter, Health and the Family Jakarta 1988 Shelter and Community London 1987 Shelter for the Homeless New York 1986 Shelter is my Right Nairobi Not only is this a constitutional requirement, but quality housing is an imperative in restoring the dignity of our nation; The right to adequate shelter is a human right for all South Africans; Home ownership becomes an asset and an investment. Adequate housing to the poor provides more than a shelter but also: Protects people from various vulnerabilities which can affect their health and security; Adequate housing can eradicate problems such as shack fires and diseases caused due to lack of proper sanitation and basic services. Poverty and expansion in urbanisation has resulted in unplanned settlements, increasing the number of slum dwellings all over the landscape of South Africa. Growing number of slum inhabitants By 2050, the worlds population will swell to 6.25 billion, with 5.1 billion people living in cities in the developing world. Of these, as many as 2 billion people will live in slums. Slums and Squatter Settlements 1 billion people of global population reside in sub- standard housing and informal settlements that lack adequate shelter and basic services. By 2020, an estimated 889 million urbanites across the world will reside in slums and squatter settlements characterised by an absence of any formal urban planning. Urban Areas are an Economic Opportunity Urbanisation and urban density brings value. A compact and well-planned city offers businesses a comparative advantage in terms of competitiveness and employment. Poor and disadvantaged persons living in cities are more likely to be lifted out of poverty than their rural counterparts. The provision and access to adequate housing is a catalyst for development and remains one of the primary requirements towards sustainable livelihoods. Adequate shelter forms the foundation of basic needs in addition to food, health, education and paid work, which are the primary concerns of security for an average person in the developing world. Thus, the existence of slums should be seen as a manifestation of hardships and limitations to livelihoods when a house is not a home. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Housing has become an urgent need for millions of people in developing countries around the world. Initiatives to improve living conditions of slum dwellers and supplying affordable housing will assist to curb the rise in slum dwellings. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Department of Human Settlements has recognised that the backlog in South Africa is not being reduced fast enough and has committed to increasing the rate of delivery with a view to wiping out the backlog by 2030. If we work together, we can achieve better cities for all. The Estate Agency Affairs Board in support of World Habitat Day encourages all estate agents within the property sector and the community at large to collectively consider what we can do as individuals to make a difference in South Africa. .