World-Habitat-Day 2009 in Washington DC: "Planning Our Urban Future"

Götz chairs Meeting of the Board of Directors on World Habitat Day 2009

The members of the Board of Directors in Washington DC, October 2009: Carmen Razon-Arceno, Markandey Rai, Rodolfo G. Biazon, Tubwita Grace Bagaya, Margaret Nantongo-Zziwa, Eloy Cantu Segovia, Peter Götz, Eliomar Coelho, Mariam Nalubega, Julia P. Coelho, Marin Bobes, Daniela Georgian, Jerko Rosin (from left to right)

The global celebration for World-Habitat-Day took place this year on 5 October 2009 in Washington DC, USA. This day is meant to encourage us to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter.

Peter Götz, deputy of the German Bundestag, was invited to participate in the global celebration by Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, and the Obama-administration.

As President of the "Global Parliamentarians on Habitat" (GPH), Götz also invited parliamentarians to a Meeting of the Board of Directors and a Meeting for Parliamentarians within the framework of this event.

In the Meeting of the Board of Directors, it was decided that the 6th World Forum of the GPH is to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The City of Rio de Janeiro will be the host of the conference. The Forum will take place on 18 and 19 March 2010 in the City Hall, some days before the World Urban Forum V. The World Urban Forum V was established to examine the impacts of rapid urbanization. It is also taking place in Rio de Janeiro in 2010.

It was also agreed to hold the 7th World Forum of the GPH in Early 2011 in Zadar, Croatia.

In the morning on 5 October during the global celebration of World Habitat Day, the "Habitat Scroll of Honour Award" was awarded. This is the most prestigious human settlements award in the world and its aim is to acknowledge initiatives which have made outstanding contributions in various habitat-related issues. In the afternoon, measures to promote public engagement in planning liveable communities were discussed.

Further information on World Habitat Day can be found on www.unhabitat.org and www.hud.gov/whd/ abrufbar.