6 October 2014: The world marked World Habitat Day, which took place under the theme, ‘Voices from the Slums,’ on 6 October 2014. The theme aimed to highlight the voices of the urban poor, and raise awareness on the hardships of slum living and ways to improve slum living conditions.

Noting that a quarter of the world’s population lives in urban slums, the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) described urban poverty as “an ever-growing concern posing development and humanitarian threats to humankind.” UN-HABITAT stressed the importance of a sustainable response to improving the living conditions of the urban poor that involves coordination by all urban stakeholders, in its statement for the day. Improving the capacity of urban actors to assess urban development needs, develop city-strategies to improve living conditions, and implement solutions is critical in sustainable responses to improving slum conditions, according to UN-HABITAT.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored the importance of addressing slum issues in achieving sustainable development and a life of dignity for all. In a statement for the day, he stressed “we have the technology and the know-how to build economically, socially and environmentally sustainable cities based on local situations,” and stressed well-planned, well-managed cities as critical for combating climate change, protecting the environment and supporting sustainable development. Ban encouraged giving slum-dwellers a voice in what has worked and what needs to be done, and focusing on “a new urban agenda that leaves no one behind.”

UN-HABITAT Executive Director Joan Clos emphasized the need for robust urban planning and providing affordable, safe housing for citizens’ growing needs, including youth, in his statement. He described slums as “a manifestation of rapid unchecked urbanization—a result of allowing our cities to expand without design or regulation and with disregard to their citizens,” noting there are an estimated one billion people living in slums despite the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on urban slums. Clos also observed that people in slums are disproportionately affected by climate change.

The day also aimed to contribute to a dialogue on addressing issues urban slum living and generating ideas on how to upgrade slums. UN-HABITAT highlighted its Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) as an example of such a programme. PSUP works in African, Caribbean and Pacific nations to strengthen community, city and national stakeholders’ capacities in participatory slum upgrading.

World Habitat Day is observed annually on the first Monday of October to reflect on the state of cities and towns and highlight the basic right of all to adequate shelter. Celebrations at UN-HABITAT Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya included an art exhibition by slum children, a traditional dance and speeches.

The UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) is expected to agree on a new urban agenda, when it takes place in 2016. [UN Press Release] [UN-HABITAT Press Release] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UN-HABITAT Executive Director Statement] [UN-HABITAT Press Release on PSUP]