6 October: World Habitat Day

"Water and Sanitation for Cities" is the theme of this year's World Habitat Day to be celebrated on 6 October 2003.

The UN General Assembly in 1985 set the first Monday of October as the observance date for the World Habitat Day. This year's Global observance will be held in the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil with a three-day event that will include the participation of the Executive director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna K. Tibaijuka, the President of Brazil and the major of Rio de Janeiro among other prominent figures.

Through the celebration of this day UN-HABITAT encourages government institutions, NGOs and the private sector to organize activities in their countries to increase awareness of the world's urban water and sanitation problems. These country-level activities will be supported by UN-HABITAT through the distribution of information material on the theme as well as information kits and a video documentary on key issues.

The theme of this year's World Habitat Day goes in line with the celebrations of the International Year of Fresh Water 2003 and the commitment set in the Millennium Development Goals of halving by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water.

According to UN projections, by 2050 one out of four people is likely to live in countries with shortages of freshwater. The regions expected to be most affected if current trends continue are North and Sub-Saharan Africa as well as West Asian countries.

During the celebration to take place in Rio de Janeiro, from 5-7 October, the Habitat Scroll of Honour and World Habitat Day awards will be granted to those individuals, institutions or countries, who have excelled on the frontlines of the challenge for sustainable urban development.

Other events scheduled to run parallel to the World Habitat Day 2003 celebrations are the launch of a programme on Water for Latin American and Caribbean Cities, and other innovative projects aimed at improving slums and helping the poor tackle issues that stem from their rights to secure tenure. For more information on ways to implement country level activities please click here.

To read the UN World Water Development Report Executive Summary please click here.

To read the provisional program of the events to be carried out in Rio de Janeiro on 6 October 2003 please click here.