UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Gary Lewis (left) and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Dr. Abbass Akhundi (right) at the World Habitat Day 2014.[/caption]TEHRAN, 6 October 2014 Voices from the Slums is the theme for the World Habitat Day 2014, which was celebrated in Tehran through a joint event organized by the Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and UN Habitat.
In this ceremony, the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Dr. Abbass Akhundi; the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Gary Lewis; heads of UN agencies and representatives of some foreign missions in Iran; senior Government officials and some informal settlements dwellers participated.
A number of UN heads of agencies and representatives of the foreign missions participated in the World Habitat Day 2014 commemoration ceremony.Photo Credit: Tasnim News Agency
In his opening remarks, Minister Akhundi highlighted the importance of addressing the challenges of the growing dwellers of the informal settlements, and called for stronger participation of all stakeholders in regenerating, rehabilitating and renovating urban areas.Recalling Article 123 of the Constitutional Law of the Islamic Republic of.Iran, which endorses the sustainable regeneration of such areas, Dr. Akhundi underlined the importance of the recently ratified document by the Government for urban revitalization, rehabilitation and renovation.
The Unveiling of the National Policy Document on Sustainable Regeneration, Rehabilitation and Renovation by Minister Dr. Akhundi. Photo Credit: Tasnim News AgencyHe hoped that through close collaboration and exchange of best practices with international partners including the UN Habitat Office in Tehran, civil society and government institutions the desperate circumstances facing the inhabitants of Irans informal settlements would be addressed. Read the full text of the Ministers speech in Persianhere.As part of the proceedings, the Minister unveiled the National Policy Document on Sustainable Regeneration of Target Areas and Neighborhoods for Urban Revitalization, Rehabilitation and Renovation
The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Gary Lewis was the next speaker. He read out themessage of UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon on the occasion of the World Habitat Day 2014.
Regenerated urban areas in SanandadjMr. Lewis then spoke of the challenges affecting the citizens of Iran (70 per cent of whom were urban residents). He pointed to future challenges coming from the impact of climate change and the ever-present peril of earthquakes and flooding.Underscoring that dwellers of informal settlements are subject to greater risks because of their vulnerability, he called upon all role-players to commit to improved planning and policy frameworks, and to continue the regularization of informal settlements.
In concluding, Mr. Lewis reassured the audience of the commitment of the United Nations for the work that needs to be done to improve human settlements. This work, he noted, would be done by the UN Habitat Office in Tehran.
Mr. Siamak Moghadam, head of the UN Habitat Office in Tehran also read outthe message by the UN Habitat Executive Director, Dr. Joan Closon the occasion of the World Habitat Day 2014.
Every year, the first Monday of October is observed as the World Habitat Day. For more information, clickhere.
By United Nations In Iran
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
