PURPOSE: More than 30 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly took an important step in promoting the idea that everyone deserves a decent place to live by declaring that the first Monday in October would be World Habitat Day. Every year, UN-Habitat recognizes the basic right of everyone to adequate shelter and asks everyone to join together as one global network in communicating the message can remove barriers to opportunity, health and success that might have been part of a family’s life for years, and in many cases for generations. The aims of the day is to focus on shelter provision, to highlight the plight of the homeless, leadership in post conflict reconstruction, and developing and improving the human settlements and the quality of urban life.
FORUM: "Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future." World Habitat 2024. By 2050, cities are projected to host approximately 70% of the world’s population, highlighting the pressing need for inclusive urban planning and sustainable development. Currently, youth in the global South make up 70% or more of cities. Despite global efforts, the United Nations acknowledges persistent challenges in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda for economic resilience and transition to a more sustainable urban future, especially in the areas of poverty, inequality, and the looming threat of climate change. These and other issues pose significant obstacles to the equitable growth and resilience of urban areas worldwide. Mobilizing support from all segments of society is crucial, with a particular emphasis on engaging the youth. Empowering youth and involving them in urban decision-making is essential for developing inclusive and resilient cities. By harnessing the energy, creativity, and perspectives of youth, cities can work towards more sustainable and equitable development, ensuring a brighter future for all. The Objectives of this year celebration are to Recognize the transformative potential of youth in shaping sustainable urban futures, to Highlight and celebrate successful initiatives and contributions by youth to urban development, to Facilitate dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders towards sustainable urbanization and to Highlight and showcase the importance of actively involving youth in urban planning and development processes as well as in the development of public policies. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldHabitatDay, #UrbanOctober, #HousingattheCentre, #Right2Housing, #MindtheGap, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #adequatehousing.
EVENTS: On October 7th, in Querétaro, Mexico, from 09:40 to 18:35 PM will be hold the High-Level Opening Ceremony of the Global Observance of the World Habitat Day 2024, under the theme "Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future.". This event aims to address the challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanization by focusing on the active involvement of young people in shaping sustainable cities and communities. World Habitat Day presents a unique opportunity to celebrate the contributions of youth to sustainable urbanization while addressing the challenges of rapid urban growth. The event will start with a Press conference (12:30 - 13:15); followed by the Youth Dialogue (11:10 - 12:10), the launch of the World Habitat Day exhibition, several Thematic roundtables and panel discussions (15:00 - 17:50) and the Closing ceremony (18:00 - 18:35). Get the draft Programme of the World Habitat Day 2024!
Thematic roundtable 1: Youth power – Leading the charge against climate change. Objective: To highlight the pivotal role of youth in addressing climate change challenges within urban environments and fostering sustainable practices. Watch it on X tv Broadcast!
Thematic roundtable 2: Moving forward – Youth-driven solutions for sustainable urban mobility. Objective: To highlight the essential role of young people in promoting innovative solutions to improve urban mobility and create more sustainable and accessible urban environments, to reduce private car dependency and CO2 emissions. Watch it on X tv Webcast!
Online registration ends on Saturday, 05 October 2024 at 18:00 (UTC-06:00, Mexico time). Register for WHD, explore the Programme and the WHD Information for participants.
From 8 to 10 October 2024; The “Beyond Agenda 2030” event, hosted by the Urban Development and Public Works Secretariat of the State of Querétaro, Mexico, in collaboration with ONU-Habitat Mexico and the federal government of Mexico. It will take place following the World Habitat Day 2024 celebration in Queretaro. It will be the first global event to put into perspective the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to 2030. It proposes to continue dialogue and collaboration among various local and global entities and to provide a platform for formulating solutions and strategies that lead to sustainable urban development and the implementation of the global development agenda. Tune up to watch it!
Upcoming Events: The Global Event Management System, GEMS, is UN-Habitat's innovative and user-friendly event management platform. It offers a one-stop solution to attend an event, submit and manage an event application and much more.
From 4–6 December 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, will be organized the Second session of the Executive Board in 2024. Register to participate! From 9–11 December 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, will be held the Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Housing. Register to participate!
Reach out for more information about and assistance with GEMS unhabitat-events@un.org
SCROLL OF HONOUR: UN-Habitat, the United Nations agency focusing on sustainable urbanization, has launched nominations for its prestigious Scroll of Honour Award 2024. Nominations closed on 17 May 2024 and five winners have been selected. The Executive Director of UN-Habitat will select up to five winners following recommendations by a panel of experts and leaders in sustainable urbanization. The winners will receive the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award – a plaque engraved with the winner’s name – at the global celebration of World Habitat Day in Querétaro City, Mexico, on 7 October 2024. In selecting the winners, UN-Habitat will consider best practices, initiatives, and innovative solutions contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities. Special attention will be given to how initiatives, practices, or individuals align with the topic of World Habitat Day 2024 of “Engaging youth to create a better urban future,” which will explore how new generations can be engaged in planning their urban present and future through participatory processes and local leadership opportunities. For a full list of eligible nominees and application details including how to nominate, click here, or register your nomination here. The winners will receive their awards at the global observance of World Habitat Day. Get the Guide of UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award 2024!
PUBLICATIONS: Read the Brochure of Preparation of World Habitat Day 2024 by the Governing Bodies of the UN-Habitat and the guidelines on how the UN-Habitat's work with civil society.
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Habitat Day 2024 and the message of UN-Habitat Executive Director on World Habitat Day 2024, October 7th.
PODCASTS: This year’s celebration focuses on empowering youth to take the lead in shaping their urban present and future through participatory processes and local leadership. According to the UN-Habitat’s World Cities Report, Solutions to Tackle urban poverty and inequality have become an urgent global priority. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: World Habitat Day 2024 is a call to action. We are not just reflecting on the state of cities or discussing the right to adequate housing – we are asking the next generation to step up and act. Millennials and Gen Z are the driving force behind sustainable urban development, and their leadership is crucial in addressing today’s challenges. Explore the poster I, the Poster II and the Urban October Toolkit. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
The World Habitat Day is Hosted by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the UN-Water, the UN-Energy, the United Nations Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, the Habitat for Humanity.
With the participation of Civil society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Mayors of Cities, Urban Planners, Researchers and academicians.
Please feel free to contact us by email address: unhabitat-whd@un.org
Held on the first Monday of October and during the launch of Urban October, the World Habitat Day is observed all around the world. While the right to adequate housing is enshrined in article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and in article 11 of the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and other international human rights treaties, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was the first international human rights mechanism which summarized in more detail the content of the right to adequate housing in its General Comment No. 4 on the right to adequate housing (1991) and in its General Comment no. 7 on forced evictions (1997).
Help the homelessness.
Provide adequate housing for all
Guide Social Inclusion in Cities
Don't Leave the Youth Behind
Rethink about Urban Regeneration: Social Value Creation
Develop a New Social Contract for Urban Resilience and Sustainability