Today, 31st October 2016 is World Cities Day and the commemoration of World Habitat day has been merged with it for this year.
The theme of #WorldCitiesDay2016 is: “Inclusive Cities, Shared Development”.
The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.
#WorldCitiesDay was established on 27 December 2013 by the General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239, in which the General Assembly “decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World #CitiesDay, invites States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day”
The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.
The Global Observance of World Cities Day will take place in Quito, Ecuador. World Cities Day marks the end of Urban October month of celebrations, events and activities.
This year 2016, World Habitat Day is being celebrated on the same day with World Cities Day.
The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as
World Habitat Day. The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the
state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the
responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
On the reason to celebrate World Cities Day 2016, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon stated that: “Cities are increasingly the home of humanity. They are central to climate action, global prosperity, peace and human rights.”
He also said that: “each year on World Habitat Day, we reflect on the state of human settlements and on what we want the cities of the future to look like”.
Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), in commemorating World Cities Day 2016, will continue to be committed to improving the quality of life of underprivileged people by providing health information and services to people, especially Nigerians in under-served cities and communities.
