World Cities Day: 31 October

World Cities Day is celebrated on 31 October each year. The United Nations designated 31 October to promote the international community’s interest in addressing the challenges of global urbanization and their contribution to sustainable urban development around the world. It was established in December 2013 by the UN General Assembly to commence in 2014.

The general theme for World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while the specific theme for 2016 is Inclusive Cities, Shared Development to coincide with World Habitat Day. Habitat III was the United Nations conference on housing and sustainable urban development, held in Quito, Ecuador, from 17-20 October 2016.

The theme Inclusive Cities, Shared Development highlights the importance of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion. Urbanization provides the potential for new forms of social inclusion, equality, access to services and engagement that reflects diversity in cities.

The UN highlights inequalities that have grown in the world’s largest cities and the economic inequality closely linked with spatial inequality. This often leads to the exclusion and marginalization of groups of people, such as older persons, migrant workers, night-shift workers, children, youth, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and minority groups.

However, urbanization can also represent opportunities for sustainable development for a more harmonious and inclusive society with services for all. The theme of Inclusive Cities, Shared Development embraces the actions of the UN’s New Urban Agenda, which is putting the topic of inclusive cities as one of the main pillars for an urban shift that is more focussed on issues of gender, youth, ageing, and reducing poverty.

The New Urban Agenda raises awareness through events and media on recreation, cultural, and entertainment activities to make visible issues such as the need for affordable housing, suitable play areas for children and youth, community buildings, and facilities, including libraries, playgrounds, and community art, social spaces, and events.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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