UNESCO takes a leading role in promoting intergovernmental and interdisciplinary research and sharing of knowledge on urban issues (notably through its programme on Management of Social Transformations – MOST), as well as in creating more peaceful and inclusive societies through intercultural dialogue.

The Urban Dialogues e-discussions leading to the Habitat III Conference are taking place from 6th until the 31th of July 2015 with participants from all around the world. They are focused on six areas of discussion, including “Social Cohesion and Equity – Livable Cities” which stresses the idea of the emergence of a so-called urban culture. The e-discussions represent a unique platform for sharing new thinking and original ideas in the elaboration of the New Urban Agenda with culture playing a key role. 

The Urban Dialogues’ Issue Paper “Urban Culture and Heritage” defines a new concept of culture, namely the urban culture as covering the notions of culture within an urban setting, from both a functional and anthropological perspective. Thus, the e-discussions take place in the spirit of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022) which implies that international security and social inclusion cannot be attained sustainably without a commitment to such principles as human dignity, mutual respect and solidarity which are the corner stones of human coexistence, in all faiths and secular ideologies.

The Urban Dialogues e-discussions are now opened for possible involvement and professional contributions from the expert communities and the wide public, in particular with consideration of the “need to focus on cities as cultural and social centres, rather than just as economic drivers”, an emerging issue noted already by the participants of the “The City We Need” Forum Event in New York in March 2014 which was meant to exchange with Campaign members on how to effectively influence the Habitat III process, the Conference itself, and its outcomes, in order to ensure the realization of the inclusive and positive vision.

Additional information:

“The Future We Want. The City We Need.” Document

The Habitat III Official Website

Read more about the Habitat Conference and main outcomes of Habitat I (Vancouver, 1976) and Habitat II (Istanbul, 1996): https://www.habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda/about