Year of entry into force:
Region: Universal
Legal Status: Intergovernmental - Non-binding
Excerpts
We, the representatives of Governments, being guided by the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations, meeting at this special session of the
General Assembly to review the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, to recognize
progress, and to identify obstacles and emerging issues, reaffirm our will and
commitment to implement fully the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements
and the Habitat Agenda and decide on further initiatives, in the spirit of the United
Nations Millennium Declaration. The Istanbul Declaration and the Habitat Agenda
will remain the basic framework for sustainable human settlements development in
the years to come.
Therefore, we:
30. Reaffirm that the family is the basic unit of society and as such should be
strengthened. It is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support. In
different cultural, political and social systems, various forms of the family exist.
Marriage must be entered into with the free consent of the intending spouses, and
husband and wife should be equal partners. The rights, capabilities and
responsibilities of family members must be respected. Human settlements planning
should take into account the constructive role of the family in the design,
development and management of such settlements. Society should facilitate, as
appropriate, all necessary conditions for its integration, reunification, preservation,
improvement and protection within adequate shelter and with access to basic
services and a sustainable livelihood;
52. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has developed in a much faster and much more
dramatic way than could have been foreseen at Istanbul. We resolve to intensify
efforts at the international and national levels against HIV/AIDS and in particular to
formulate and implement appropriate policies and actions to address the impact of
HIV/AIDS on human settlements. We recognize the problem of accessing financial
resources for housing by HIV/AIDS victims and the need for shelter solutions for
accommodating HIV/AIDS victims, especially the orphans and the terminally ill;