In search of a new strategy for better human settlements

Abstract

It is my great pleasure to see that the United Nations General Assembly decided to create the Commission on Human Settlements, to act as the focal point of its activities related to the problems of human settlements. I say this not only as an individual associated with this field, throughout the post-war years, but also as a former member of the United Nations Committee on Housing Building and Planning, from its very first session in 1963 to the seventh session in 1971 (the second session in 1964 was unforgettable). During the debate on the organizational problem for the United Nations in this field, it was argued that housing had been treated separately by many different agencies-as fringe areas, in spite of its crucial importance-and that a focal point in the United Nations system should be established to deal with this field as a unit. The late Constantine Doxiadis, then also a member, came out with a draft resolution to create the United Nations Organization for Human Settlements (UNOHS) as a specialized agency to perform this function. I was co-sponsor of an alternative resolution proposing that this should be promoted by stepby-step ways. After heated and lengthy debate, the latter draft was finally adopted. However, through the debate I was very much impressed by the very convincing argument of Doxiadis as well as the eagerness of the representatives of the developing countries for the creation of such an organization. After all, the difference was about the timing, not the direction which the United Nations should aim to achieve.