By Mahdi Al-Nemr
(with photos) NAPLES, Italy, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- Chairperson of Kuwait's Volunteer Center Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah underlined Monday the importance of the Sixth World Urban Forum deliberations in drawing a roadmap for better urban future.
"The forum is an important opportunity to review and re-evaluate the goals and identify challenges facing the international efforts to promote urban development," Sheika Amthal, also Honorary President of the Consultative Committee of the UN Human Settlements Organization (HABITAT), said in a seminar held here on the sideline of the Sixth World Urban Forum.
She stressed that need for collective actions by the international community and organizations to reach urban development goals.
"This requires uniting and coordinating efforts to draw a roadmap for future action to create a better life for people around the globe, particularly in the disasters-stricken areas," said Sheikha Amthal, also Chairwoman of Kuwait Human Settlements Committee.
Earlier, Sheikha Amthal said the globalized action must be based on the high the interests of humanity.
She shed lights on the growing challenges facing the world due to the steadily growth of people who migrate to urban cities, expected to make up 60 percent of residents of human settlements in the coming two decades compared with only 2 percent early nineteenth century.
Sheikha Amthal noted that the new residents of urban communities must be provided with all proper services.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Amthal lauded the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) support and promotion of urban development in poor, disasters and war-ravaged nations through special funds and organizations.
She spoke highly about the GCC civil society and charity organizations' efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable development across the globe.
Sheikha Amthal hailed GCC leaders, particularly His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for their support to HABITAT, and urban and sustainable development projects in different parts of the world.
She pointed out that UN-HABITAT's choice of Kuwait to host its regional office was the result of the fruitful cooperation between Kuwait and all UN organizations, particularly UN-HABITAT, for a better future for all people of the world.
In this regard, Kuwait, through its Foreign Ministry, has recently released the first comprehensive report on the Arab cities, Sheikha Amathal said, adding that the international version of the report will be revealed on sideline of the Six Urban World Forum.
Sheikha Amthal pledged that she would work through the Gulf Consultative Human Settlements Committee to raise awareness and promote voluntary work to serve the urban communities in the Gulf region.
Organized jointly by UN-Habitat, the Government of Italy, the Campania Region and the City of Naples, the theme for this year's meeting is The Urban Future. Over 3,000 participants from 114 countries will take part in the premier conference on cities and urban issues.
The four focus areas for discussion are: Urban Planning: Institutions and Regulations, including the improvement of Quality of Life; Equity and Prosperity: Distribution of Wealth and Opportunities; Productive Cities: Competitive and Innovative Cities and Urban Mobility, Energy and Environment.
In parallel with these main dialogue sessions, there will also be an additional 160 networking, side and training events and the World Urban Forum exhibition will showcase some of the world's leading cities and innovations in urban development. The exhibition, which will be open to delegates and the general public, is an opportunity to share experiences, best practices and innovative ways from all over the globe to improve cities.
The World Urban Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.
The Forum is one of the most open and inclusive gatherings of its kind on the international stage. It brings together participants from all over the world representing governments, academia, civil society and the private sector as partners working for better cities. Previous meetings were held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2002, Barcelona, Spain, in 2004, Vancouver, Canada, 2006, Nanjing, China, in 2008 and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2010. (end) mn.ibi KUNA 032118 Sep 12NNNN