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Habitat for Humanity International delegation to the World Urban Forum calls for a focus on adequate housing and land tenure in global housing agenda


Atlanta, Georgia USA – WEBWIRE

Representatives from Habitat for Humanity International will join more than 20,000 development experts from around the globe in Medellín, Colombia, on April 5-11 to address the most pressing human settlement issues facing the world today – including rapid urbanization and its impact on cities and communities – at the seventh session of the World Urban Forum (WUF7).

“Habitat for Humanity is focused on integrating adequate housing and land tenure into the global development agenda,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “This conference emphasizes how decent housing is crucial to a more just and prosperous society. Adequate housing and secure tenure are critical foundations for breaking the cycle of poverty, and they must be a focus of any sustainable cities development goal.”

On Tuesday, April 8, Reckford will introduce the WUF7 Civil Society Roundtable, “A new Urban Agenda responsive to people’s priorities for an equitable urban future.” This critical conversation will formulate recommendations to the Open Working Group of the United Nations in developing a Post-2015 global agenda and strategy for influencing the development of a new Urban Agenda leading up to the Third U.N. Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in 2016. Reckford will be joined by Renee Glover, roundtable rapporteur and Habitat for Humanity International’s board chair.

“Since our founding in 1976, we have seen firsthand the positive impact of housing on individuals and families around the world,” said Glover. “Our goal has always been to see a world where everyone – and we mean everyone – has a decent place to live. We must prioritize addressing current slum conditions, preventing the growth of such conditions and increasing access to land and transparency of property rights.” 

Habitat for Humanity’s delegation to WUF7 will also include Elizabeth Blake, senior vice president of advocacy, government affairs and general counsel; Torre Nelson, vice president of the Latin American/Caribbean region; and Steve Weir, vice president of global program development and support.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity’s advocacy initiatives, please visit www.habitat.org/advocacy.

You can add your voice to the call for housing as a priority in the Post-2015 agenda here.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.



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