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).
Comments
Post a Comment