Urbanization, human rights and Sustainable development

What is Urbanization? What is urbanization. What is urbanization. increase in the proportion of a population living in urban areas; increase in the proportion of a population living in urban areas; process by which a large number of people becomes permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities. process by which a large number of people becomes permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities. the physical growth of urban areas. the physical growth of urban areas. defined by the UN as the movement of people from rural to urban areas. defined by the UN as the movement of people from rural to urban areas. Advantages of Urban Centres Advantages of Urban Centres provide better employment, education, health care and cultural enrichment.(Moore et al, 2003). provide better employment, education, health care and cultural enrichment.(Moore et al, 2003).

tQo tQo Urbanization and human rights Urbanization and human rights Poverty, insecurity, fear, gender insecurity, sexual harassment are common place Poverty, insecurity, fear, gender insecurity, sexual harassment are common place What can be done need for good practice. What can be done need for good practice.

UN-Habitat Report(2010) Despite availability of amenities, urbanization, benefits mostly political leaders, the elite class, and civil servants while the majority are suffering. Despite availability of amenities, urbanization, benefits mostly political leaders, the elite class, and civil servants while the majority are suffering. Examples abound in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean Examples abound in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean urbanization helps in increasing the city divide between the rich and poor (UN-Habitat Report, 2010) urbanization helps in increasing the city divide between the rich and poor (UN-Habitat Report, 2010)

Urbanization, poverty and human rights. Rapid peripheral growth Rapid peripheral growth encourages encroachment and environmental degradation. encourages encroachment and environmental degradation. Exerting excessive pressure on urban facilities and services. Exerting excessive pressure on urban facilities and services. Demand outstrips urban capacity to meet basic needs Demand outstrips urban capacity to meet basic needs Affect human health and quality of life. Affect human health and quality of life.

Increases in population leads: Increases in population leads: to pressure on housing, overcrowding, homelessness, lack of basic services, education, health and hygiene, food, water, inadequate judiciary protection, discrimination, crime, exploitation and violence(Moore,2003). to pressure on housing, overcrowding, homelessness, lack of basic services, education, health and hygiene, food, water, inadequate judiciary protection, discrimination, crime, exploitation and violence(Moore,2003). Unplanned development leads to: Unplanned development leads to: pollution, traffic congestion, problems of waste disposal etc. pollution, traffic congestion, problems of waste disposal etc. Growth of urban poor leads to: Growth of urban poor leads to: stress associated with unemployment and inadequate education, homelessness, and crime. stress associated with unemployment and inadequate education, homelessness, and crime. These conditions encourage abuse of human rights like the rights to: These conditions encourage abuse of human rights like the rights to: Education, health, good standards of living etc of the urban poor. Education, health, good standards of living etc of the urban poor.

Universal declaration of human rights. CbHE CbHE CbHE CbHE

Urbanization and human rights

Exercise Watch the above clip Watch the above clip 1) name 5 human rights of these CITIZENS that you consider their governments have failed to protect these citizens 2) What can be done to improve their lot

Sustainable urban planning, poverty reduction and human rights. Sustainable planning promotes policies of inclusivity. Sustainable planning promotes policies of inclusivity. Such policies reduce inequalities in access to education, health, jobs and other services. Such policies reduce inequalities in access to education, health, jobs and other services. Provide judiciary protection for all; Provide judiciary protection for all; Encourage democratic participation in decision making by all residents. Encourage democratic participation in decision making by all residents. Boosters a sense of belonging and identity and make residents enjoy the benefits of urban development Boosters a sense of belonging and identity and make residents enjoy the benefits of urban development

Excercise Watch these clips on the Brazilian sustainable city of Curibati Watch these clips on the Brazilian sustainable city of Curibati And the Kibera slum in Nairobi Kenya And the Kibera slum in Nairobi Kenya 1) what is the difference between Curibati (Brazil) and the Kibera (Nairobi) Kenya. 2) What is the difference approaches to resolve the problems of urbanization?

How effective are the two governments-Brazil and Kenya in solving their own problems How effective are the two governments-Brazil and Kenya in solving their own problems What lessons do you learn in these two cases in terms of sustainable self development. What lessons do you learn in these two cases in terms of sustainable self development. What can be done to empower the citizens of kibera? What can be done to empower the citizens of kibera? Whose responsibility is to protect the human rights of these people is it the churches or their local and national governments? Whose responsibility is to protect the human rights of these people is it the churches or their local and national governments? How do you associate the curibati with the ESD goals of learning to live together and to transform one’s environment? How do you associate the curibati with the ESD goals of learning to live together and to transform one’s environment?

Human rights and environment. UN convention on human rights and environment( Aarhus) convention: UN convention on human rights and environment( Aarhus) convention: An instrument for environmental protection and promotion of civil rights in matters concerning sustainable development especially in areas like climate change, air and water pollution An instrument for environmental protection and promotion of civil rights in matters concerning sustainable development especially in areas like climate change, air and water pollution Gives all individuals the rights to fight for environmental protection Gives all individuals the rights to fight for environmental protection

Instrument for sustainable urbanization Instrument for sustainable urbanization Gives individuals the rights to be involved in matters of: Gives individuals the rights to be involved in matters of: -city planning,infrasture management and environment. -city planning,infrasture management and environment.

The Aarhus convention centres around three themes: The Aarhus convention centres around three themes: Information, participation and justice on environmental matters. Information, participation and justice on environmental matters.

Exercise Aarhus Convention Exercise Aarhus Convention presentation.htm presentation.htmhttp:// presentation.htmhttp:// presentation.htm Watch the clip on the Aarhus convention. Watch the clip on the Aarhus convention. 1) how has the Aarhus convention helped to foster individual’s rights to fight for environmental rights? 1) how has the Aarhus convention helped to foster individual’s rights to fight for environmental rights? Who should be accountable for environmental degradation? Who should be accountable for environmental degradation? What is the importance of environmental rights over community welfare? What is the importance of environmental rights over community welfare?

Convention on access to information Convention on access to information Public participation in decision making and Public participation in decision making and Access to justice on environmental matters. Access to justice on environmental matters. ntentofaarhus.htm ntentofaarhus.htm ntentofaarhus.htm ntentofaarhus.htm [accessed 03/07/2011]. [accessed 03/07/2011].

Links. Aarhus Convention. Aarhus Convention. us.htm us.htm us.htm us.htm [accessed 03/07/2011]. [accessed 03/07/2011]. UN-Habitat report 2010: UN-Habitat report 2010: the Urban divide;Inclusive cities. C10/R8.pdf the Urban divide;Inclusive cities. C10/R8.pdf C10/R8.pdf C10/R8.pdf [Accessed, 03/07/2011] [Accessed, 03/07/2011]

Moore, Melinda,Gould, Philip and Keary, Barbara(2003) Moore, Melinda,Gould, Philip and Keary, Barbara(2003) Globalization and Impact on health. International journal of hygiene and environmental health vol. 206: [Accessed 10/07/2011]