WRITTEN QUESTION E-0918/01

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) and John Corrie (PPE-DE) to the Council

(29 March 2001)

Subject: Habitat+5 and the family

In the light of 12 paragraphs referring to the family in the 1996 Habitat Platform for Action, in particular paragraph 31, which states that: Human settlement planning should take into account the constructive role of the family in the design, development and management of such settlement. Society should facilitate as appropriate all necessary conditions for its integration, reunification, preservation, improvement, and protection within adequate shelter and with access to basic secure and sustainable livelihood. In the light of the European Parliament's Hermange report on family protection, and in the light of the constitutionnal protection of the family in the Irish Constitution and in most other EU constitutions, how will the Council promote the recognition and inclusion of the importance of the family in the upcoming Ungass(1) on Habitat+5? What terminology will be proposed to achieve family promotion, which is at the heart of every human settlement?

(1) Extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly of the UN.

Reply

(27 September 2001)

From 6 to 8 June 2001, five years after Habitat II (Istanbul 1996), the General Assembly of the United Nations will hold a special session to review and appraise implementation of the Habitat Agenda

worldwide. In assessing progress toward the Habitat Agenda commitments and strategies, all Member States of the United Nations were invited to prepare a report on national and local implementation of the Habitat Agenda, reflecting the views of the government and of its partners. Therefore, it is not a matter of renegotiating the Habitat Agenda but of complying with its paragraph 240 which states:

All partners of the Habitat Agenda, including local authorities, the private sector and communities, should regularly monitor and evaluate their own performance in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda through comparable human settlements and shelter indicators and documented best practices

The Commission on Human Settlements acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) has decided to transmit the text of a draft declaration on cities and other human settlements in the new millennium to the General Assembly at its twenty-fifth special session for further consideration.

The European Union has contributed to this text during the last Prep Com (Nairobi 19-23 February 2001). In particular, paragraph 30 of such draft declaration which specifically refers to paragraph 31 of the Habitat Agenda on the role of the family states:

We 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.

This language has been agreed by all Member States, nevertheless negotiations are still ongoing, as the Prepcom II decided to hold a two days of intersessional negotiations on 4 and 5 June in New York, immediately before the Ungass which will start on 6 June 2001.