UNITED NATIONS	HS
	Commission on Human Settlements	Distr. LIMITED HS/C/17/L.1/Add.1 8 May 1999 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

1. Committee I considered item 4 at its 1st meeting, on 5 May 1999. In considering the item, it had before it the progress report of the Executive Director on the activities UNCHS (Habitat) (HS/C/17/2); the report of the Executive Director on "The State of the World's Cities: 1999" (HS/C/17/2/Add.1); the note by the secretariat on a strategic vision for UNCHS (Habitat): discussion and recommendations (HS/C/17/2/Add.2); the report of the Secretary-General on the assessment of UNCHS (Habitat) (HS/C/17/CRP.4); the report of the Secretary-General on environment and human settlements, summarizing the recommendations of the Task Force on Environment and Human Settlements (HS/C/17/CRP.5); the operational activities report, 1999 (HS/C/17/INF/3); and the note by the secretariat on the activities of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat (HS/C/17/INF/4).

2. The item was also considered within the context of the high-level segment at the 2nd plenary meeting of the session, on 5 May 1999, and 3rd and 4th plenary meetings, on 6 May 1999.

3. In his policy statement at the opening ceremony, a summary of which appears in annex YY to the present proceedings, the Acting Executive Director stated his expectation that the Commission would give a strong signal to the international community of the potential of UNCHS (Habitat) to serve the global authority and catalyst for action in the area of human settlements. He said that the revitalization process, which had now been successfully completed, had set the basis for a forward-looking organization, flexible, innovative and proactive, able to implement policies and programmes effectively around shared goals, transparent and accountable in its dealings with donors, developing countries and people around the world, and equipped for fruitful partnerships with the rest of the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions. The revitalization of UNCHS (Habitat) would also meet the need for a city agency within the United Nations system.

4. The two global campaigns on, respectively, security of tenure and urban governance, to be launched, subject to discussions by the Commission, immediately after the current session, would shape the Centre's work programme and budget for the next biennium.

5. The Centre had also enhanced its accountability and transparency, as noted in the recent report of ACABQ to Member States for their strengthened support and commitment.

6. In addition, he said that the administrative support structures for both UNEP and UNCHS (Habitat) had been streamlined, yielding significant savings, with a view to using the synergies available in the administration and in programme development and implementation in both organizations to achieve common goals while maintaining their distinctive and independent roles and mandates.

7. Introducing the item in Committee I, the representative of the Executive Director suggested that, in addressing the progress report of the Executive Director (HS/C/17/2), the Committee might focus on chapter IV, dealing with the Centre's response to resolutions adopted by the Commission at its sixteenth session on specific substantive activities of the Centre; chapter V, on the regionalization strategy of the Centre in response to Commission resolution 16/19, session on the organization of the Centre's activities; and addendum 1, on "The State of the World's Cities: 1999".

8. He informed the Committee that "The State of the World's Cities: 1999" introduced a new approach to gathering information on the world's urban areas. Current global trends affecting cities and the policy response to those trends were summarized, and a number of recommendations for future work on the report series were offered for the consideration of the Commission.

9. He highlighted certain important issues contained in the progress report, including disaster mitigation, the realization of the human right to adequate housing and international cooperation for sustainable human-settlements development.

10. During the discussion of this item in the plenary, many delegations expressed satisfaction with and strong support for the direction and progress of the Centre's reform and revitalization process and for the new strategic vision and welcomed the steps taken towards reorganizing the financial and administrative management. In that context, many delegations referred to the ongoing reform of the United Nations system and to the Secretary-General's report on environment and human settlements, submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session.

11. Many delegations stressed the need for clear priorities and a clear relationship between the work programme and the budget and for a limited number of core activities related to supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. In addition, many delegations expressed support for the new strategic focus on security of tenure and urban governance.

12. Many delegations expressed the hope that the revitalization of the Centre would facilitate attainment of an adequate and predictable financial base. Some delegations representing developing countries said that their countries also shared responsibility for the Centre's future financial security and pledged their financial support.

13. Many delegations supported the focus on urban development and the proposal that the Centre should be presented as the United Nations city agency. Several delegations, however, also voiced concern that such an emphasis could divert attention from and marginalize rural areas, villages and smaller towns.

14. While some delegations welcomed synergies and expanded cooperation with UNEP, including sharing a common Executive Director, other delegations said that there was a need to maintain the Centre as a strong independent entity with its own Executive Director.

15. During the discussions in Committee I, delegations praised the progress made in the revitalization of the Centre and welcomed the new strategic vision and focus in the work programme. Some delegations also emphasized the importance of establishing strategic partnerships with local authorities.

16. In response to a question raised by one delegation, relating to the implementation of Commission resolution 16/18, on illegal Israeli human settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, the secretariat responded that, while it had been decided to request the Executive Director of UNCHS (Habitat) to cooperate with the Secretary-General in monitoring the situation and preparing the report called for by the General Assembly at its tenth emergency special session and also to request the Executive Director to present to the Commission at its seventeenth session a comprehensive report on his contribution pursuant to in compliance with the resolution, unfortunately no earmarked funds had been allocated to enable the Centre to fulfil its mandate. Although the Centre attached great importance to the issues raised in the resolution, its precarious financial situation had meant that there was no scope to allocate non-earmarked funds available from voluntary contributions. Accordingly, the contribution of UNCHS (Habitat) had been limited to the support provided to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza as funded by UNDP. If the necessary funds were allocated, the Centre would be in a position to undertake the important work in question.

(to be completed)