UN-HABITAT has always tried to ensure that the voice of local authorities is heard loudly and clearly in international forums, including in the UN inter-governmental machinery. This was the case with the Istanbul Partner Committee where governments were briefed by Local Authorities and other partners in an official segment of the Habitat II Conference.

High-level dialogues were thereafter formally included in the proceedings of UN-HABITAT’s Governing Council from its 16th session onwards. The format established by UN-HABITAT was later adopted by other UN bodies because it showed it could provide important inputs to inter-governmental deliberations.

UN-HABITAT also tried to promote the direct participation of local authorities in the work of its Governing Council. In 1997, a proposal was made to include representatives of international associations of local authorities in the Commission, based on the tripartite ILO model involving governments, employers and trade unions.

Although this proposal was certainly premature, it opened a new area of discussion among national governments which agreed to systematically include mayors and other local authority officials in their national delegations. The discussion also demonstrated that local authorities and their associations could not be considered NGOs because local authorities have governmental functions. Their associations are therefore more inter-governmental than non-governmental.

Another step in the same discussion came after the elevation of UN-HABITAT to programme status in the UN system, resulting in the need for drafting new rules of procedure for the Governing Council. These rules, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2003, include a specific section on the participation of non-members to the Governing Council. Rule 64 reads as follows:

“Duly accredited representatives of local authorities, invited by the Executive Director, in consultation with their respective governments, where requested, or representing national or international associations or organizations recognised by the United Nations, may participate, as observers at public meetings, in the deliberations of the Governing Council and its subsidiary organs.”

Two comments can be made on this rule. Firstly, governments could have a say on the accreditation of individual local authorities. Secondly, representatives of individual local authorities and of their national and international associations can participate fully in the deliberations of the Governing Council, without their presence and statements being subject to approval by the Council. They cannot vote or discuss administrative issues, but they can contribute to consensus-building in all substantive areas.

Provided it is well structured, the voice of local authorities will be taken very seriously into account at future sessions of the Governing Council. The new World Organization could and should play a central role in organising its members to ensure an optimal inter-action with the UN system, and particularly with its focal point for local authorities - UN-HABITAT.

Daniel Biau, Director of the Regional and Technical Cooperation Division, is the Acting Deputy Executive Director of UN-HABITAT.