World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day

Basic Information

World Habitat Day is an annual event observed on first Monday of October (7 October 2019) to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.


Observed on: First Monday of October (5 October 2020)

Organized by: UN, UN-Habitat

Introduced in: 1985 (UN Resolution)

Observed: Worldwide


About World Habitat Day

The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1985 that first Monday in October would be World Habitat Day through Resolution 40/202. And the first Observation is made in 1986 with a theme “Shelter is my right”. The day is observed to show the basic human right to adequate shelter and also to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the habitat of future generations.


Activities and Programs on World Habitat Day

Events are arranged locally by different organizations to observe the day. Events and actions are taking place in accordance with the theme selected for the year. These themes and events promote inclusive housing, safe and healthy living environment etc. The events and actions also aim to spread the theme and message of the day.

Various programs are organized to examine the problems of rapid urbanization and its impact on the environment and human poverty. United Nations Human Settlements Program (UNHSP) launched an award “Habitat Scroll of Honour” for acknowledging initiatives in the field of habitat.


Theme for World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day 2020 Theme is “Housing For All – A Better Urban Future

World Habitat Day 2019 Theme was “Frontier Technologies as an innovative tool to transform waste to wealth

Habitat Day 2018 Theme was “Municipal Solid Waste Management

2017 Theme: Housing Policies: Affordable Homes

2016 Theme: Housing at the Centre

2015 Theme: Public Spaces for All

2014 Theme: Voices from Slums

2013 Theme: Urban Mobility

2012 Theme: Changing Cities, Building Opportunities

2011 Theme: Cities and Climate Change

2010 Theme: Better City, Better Life

2009 Theme: Planning our Urban

2008 Theme: Harmonious Cities

2007 Theme: A safe city is a just city

2006 Theme: Cities, magnets of hope

2005 Theme: The Millennium Development Goals and the City

2004 Theme: Cities – Engines of Rural Development

2003 Theme: Water and Sanitation for Cities

2002 Theme: City-to-City Cooperation

2001 Theme: Cities without Slums

2000 Theme: Women in Urban Governance

1999 Theme: Cities for All

1998 Theme: Safer Cities

1997 Theme: Future Cities

1996 Theme: Urbanization, Citizenship and Human Solidarity

1995 Theme: Our Neighbourhood

1994 Theme: Home and the Family

1993 Theme: Women and Shelter Development

1992 Theme: Shelter and Sustainable Development

1991 Theme: Shelter and the Living Environment

1990 Theme: Shelter and Urbanization

1989 Theme: Shelter, Health and the Family

1988 Theme: Shelter and Community

1987 Theme: Shelter for the Homeless

1986 Theme: Shelter is my Right


Click here for List of Important Days or UN Observations

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