World Habitat Day 2023: Theme, Significance, History & Celebration

Every year, the first Monday of October is observed as World Habitat Day with the aim to raise awareness of the basic right of all to adequate shelter. This special day also focuses on the state of human settlements and remind people that they are responsible for the habitat of future generations as well.

World Habitat Day 2023 is being observed on Monday, October 2, 2023. The day is observed every year on the first Monday of October.

World Habitat Day 2023 Date

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for World Habitat Day for the next 5 years.

World Habitat Day 2023 Overview

Significance of World Habitat Day

Adequate shelter is the basic right of humans and everyone deserves a roof over their head. Years and years of hard work has been continued to fight poverty but with pandemic hitting hard, the years of progress made reversed. Now we need to stand even more stronger in our fight with poverty and homelessness and the World Habitat Day 2023 will be celebrated with this mission in view.

Other than shelter and habitat related issues, urban poverty and inequality have also become an urgent global priority. World Habitat Day 2023 also addresses the problems of rapid urbanization and its impact on the environment and human poverty.

World Habitat Day History

the resolution to establish World Habitat Day was proposed in the United Nations in 1985 at one of its General Assembly meeting. The resolution 40/202 declared that the first Monday of October every year will be celebrated as World Habitat Day.

The idea behind adopting this day was to reflect on the state of towns and cities around the world and ensure the basic right of all to adequate shelter and it also reminds the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. The first World Habitat Day was celebrated on October 6 1986. theme for this day was Shelter is My Right” and Nairobi was the host city for observing the day.

Last year, the host city of World Habitat Day was Balikesir, Republic of Türkiye.

World Habitat Day 2023 Celebration

World Habitat Day is held on the first Monday of October and it also launches Urban October. The day is celebrated in different ways in different countries but generally comprises of events, seminars and discussions focused on a specific theme.

Celebrations are also organized at the level of United Nations. The Habitat Scroll of Honour award, the most prestigious human settlements award in the world, is distributed to the selected winners on the occasion of World Habitat Day. In the year 2023, the global observance of World Habitat Day will take place on 2 October.

Many local organizations and charities also observe the World Habitat Day with events organized at smaller yet effective levels. These organizations and charities woirk to provide settlements to the poor and needy. As an individual, you can join these charities for a day and learn how they work to help others. You can donate your money, time or both to these charities and lend a helping hand in achieving the goal of World Habitat Day.

Also check other Important Days in October

What is Habitat Scroll of Honour award?

The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award is the most prestigious award in the world for human settlements. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme launched this award in 1989. The award honors the initiatives that made prominent contributions in the fields such as shelter provision, highlighting the plight of the homeless, leadership in post conflict reconstruction, etc.

The Habitat Scroll of Honour Award is given every year on the occasion of World Habitat Day to selected winners.

World Habitat Day 2023 Theme

World Habitat Day 2023 theme is “Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery”.

In 2022, the World Habitat Day was observed under the theme “Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind”. The theme focused on the problems of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements and also aimed to draw attention towards the growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been aggravated by the triple ‘C’ crises: COVID-19, climate and conflict.

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