1. Report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (HSP/GC/23/3)
2. Addendum: Draft Resolutions prepared by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (HSP/GC/23/3/Add.1)

Mr. Chairman,
Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies, and
Distinguished Delegates,

I now have the honour of introducing documents HSP/GC/23/3, Report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives; and HSP/GC/23/3/Add.1, Addendum: Draft Resolutions prepared by the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

Report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (HSP/GC/23/3)

In accordance with the Governing Council Resolution 18/1, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UN-Habitat, the intersessional subsidiary body of the Governing Council, ensured that the Programme’s policies and activities take full account of the directions given by the Governing Council and the General Assembly, and to advise the Secretariat of Member States’ inputs.

As stated in document HSP/GC/23/3, the Committee held 8 Regular meetings and 1 Extraordinary meeting. During these meetings, implementation of the work programme and budget of UN-Habitat was reviewed, implementation of resolutions of the Governing Council was monitored, and draft resolutions for consideration by the Governing Council were prepared.

In its preparations for the Governing Council, the Committee reviewed the Strategic Framework for 2012-2013. It was forwarded to the Committee for Programme Coordination (CPC) in December 2009. The Work Programme and Budget for 2012-2013 was reviewed and similarly forwarded to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in December 2010. The Committee also played an active role in preparing the 5th Session of the World Urban Forum, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, March 2010.

The Committee received reports on the UN-Habitat’s activities including country activities and financial status every three months. On the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic and Institutional Plan (MTSIP), it received reports every six months. It was also kept abreast of developments at the sessions of the General Assembly regarding implementation of United Nations conference on human settlements.

Following the Governing Council Resolution 22/5, the Committee, jointly with the Secretariat, established an Implementation Team to examine the governance of UN-Habitat, and was briefed on its activities quarterly. The Committee also approved proposals tabled by the Team at its Meetings, which I believe will be discussed later in this meeting.

In executing the above responsibilities, the Committee was assisted by its Working Groups which met regularly and informal Contact Groups which were set up from time to time as the need arose to facilitate the discussion.

Addendum: Draft Resolutions prepared by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (HSP/GC/23/3/Add.1)

Mr. Chairman, this document contains the initial four draft resolutions, which the Committee prepared through its Working Group for Planning in January and February 2011 with a view to assisting the Governing Council in its deliberations.

1. Draft Resolution on third United Nations conference on housing and sustainable urban development (Habitat III)
2. Draft Resolution on sustainable urban development through expanding equitable access to land, housing, basic services and infrastructure
3. Draft Resolution on global and national strategies and frameworks for improving lives of slum dwellers beyond the Millennium Development Goals target
4. Draft Resolution on country activities by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme

After submitting document HSP/GC/23/3/Add.1, I also wish to add that the Committee continued to discuss the draft resolutions to further provide assistance in deliberations at the Governing Council and the following draft resolutions are being brought to your attention for further consideration and recommendation to the Drafting Committee

1. Draft Resolution on Future activities by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in urban economy and financial mechanisms for urban upgrading, housing and basic services for the urban poor
2. Draft Resolution on the work programme and budget of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme for 2012-2013
3. Draft Resolution on the governance of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme
4. Draft Resolution on coordinated implementation of the guidelines on access to basic services for all and the guidelines on decentralisation and strengthening of local authorities
5. Draft Resolution on the formulation of a global housing strategy
6. Draft Resolution on sustainable urban development through policies for safer cities and urban crime prevention
7. Draft Resolution on natural disaster risk reduction, preparedness, prevention and mitigation as a contribution to sustainable urban development

Mr. Chairman, you would notice draft resolutions have significant portion in bracket and with several alternative languages, and some of them indicating names of the proposed member States. These in our view as CPR are all meant to facilitate your work by conveying the sense of the wealth of the debate that has gone into each document. The Committee hopes that you find this helpful in reaching early conclusions on each document.

Mr. Chairman, Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, and Distinguished Delegates, this concludes my introduction to these agenda items.

I thank you for your kind attention.