Habitat II: A critical assessment

The Second United Nationsʹ Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat II, convened in Istanbul, Turkey from June 3 to 14, 1996. The Conference capped a three-year process of preparation that involved all of the worldʹs governments and hundreds of non-governmental institutions, organizations, and individuals. Both the preparatory process and the Conference itself were global dialogues about experiences in the management of urban problems from housing and infrastructure to decentralization of public responsibility and environmental protection. Despite great variation around the world, these discussions were very important in creating an opportunity for learning and dialogue, and they were quite rich in their content. It might be said that they proved that the world is not exactly a global village; it may be closer to a global city or town. The growing importance of urban phenomena in the future of the world was strongly affirmed.