The commemoration of this year’s World Habitat Day (WHD), which falls annually on the first Monday of October, will be held in Surabaya, East Java, on Oct. 5.
According to a statement, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat) executive director Maimunah Mohd Sharif signed an agreement on Tuesday to select the East Java provincial capital to host the commemoration event.
The event, with the theme of “Housing for All: A Better Urban Future”, will bring together stakeholders on sustainable urbanization and settlement development.
However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the event will be held virtually. Meanwhile, the Scroll of Honor Award ceremony will take place in Surabaya under strict health protocols.
The award is given to acknowledge “initiatives [on] outstanding contributions in the field of [among other categories] human settlements, provision of housing and improving human settlements and the quality of urban life,” according to the UN.
Surabaya was chosen to host the event in acknowledgement of the accomplishment of its mayor, Tri Rismaharini, who was given the award during the 2018 WHD commemoration in Nairobi, Kenya.
She was honored for implementing people-centered and inclusive city regeneration as well as development initiatives that prioritize low-income residents. Among the initiatives recognized was Risma’s initiative on solid waste management and mobilizing communities to reduce and recycle household waste.
In the statement, Indonesia’s deputy permanent representative to UN Habitat said the country should take pride in many regional leaders who have received global recognition for their innovations and inclusive policies in urban development. (aly)
