The UN approves a wide local and regional participation in Habitat III

Last December 2015 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the rules of procedure and participation for Habitat III, the Third Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development to be held in Quito, Ecuador, 17 - 20 October 2016. One of the main developments of the agreement was the resolution to increase the participation of civil society and local and regional authorities in the conference. In fact, this is the form of intervention most inclusive ever adopted by the United Nations.

The resolution was taken at the seventieth session of the General Assembly, where the Rules of Procedure were approved and so were the modalities of involvement of stakeholders. This highlights the major role that intermediate governments will play in the drafting of a global New Urban Agenda, which is the UN member states’ ultimate goal at Habitat III.

This opportunity to engage as fully is also shown in the recognition of the celebration of the II World Assembly of Local and Regional Authorities, one of the Regional and Thematic Meetings parallel organized at Habitat III. It will also take place in Quito and its progress will influence the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, which should be compatible with the new Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. On behalf of ORU FOGAR, President Paul Carrasco will meet soon with the Secretary General of Habitat III, Joan Clos, to determine the organization's participation in the conference.