Throughout history, cities, towns and urban areas have served as centres of culture and civilization, facilitating the evolution of knowledge, fine arts, as well as industry and commerce. The worst is social exclusion - lack of organization in the cities, which occur throughout the world. They must continue to fulfil these vital roles in order to nourish and sustain culture and civilization and socio-economic development. This would require deliberate and concerted efforts by all women and men, civil society, Governments at all levels and the world community to overcome the growing serious problems of social exclusion of segments of the urban population and the rapid degradation and disorganization of cities. These are symptoms of mismanagement, lack of resources and failure to adapt to progressive social, cultural and economic trends in a changing world.
Many cities are no longer efficient places for production, commerce and employment.
On the other hand, enhanced communication, increased trade and capital flows and technological developments offer new opportunities for cities, not least in developing countries, to provide the framework for accelerated and ecologically sustainable industrialization. Thus cities can be part of the world economy and be the engines for sustained economic growth and sustainable development. If present urban problems are not solved, however, they will become obstacles to stability, well-being and the attainment of sustainable development. Many countries are simultaneously sources of, and destinations for, migrants. International migration, in its various forms, continues to be a matter of concern.