The XXXI General Assembly of the Forum of Ministers and Highest Authorities of Housing and Urbanism of Latin America and the Caribbean – MINURVI concluded today at ECLAC’s headquarters in Santiago, Chile.
Ministers and the highest authorities of housing and urbanism of Latin America and the Caribbean – MINURVI urged for transforming and humanizing housing, cities and territories during the closing segment of this regional forum’s XXXI General Assembly, which concluded today at the central headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile.
In the Santiago Declaration, signed by 17 countries, the authorities committed themselves to ensuring that states play an active role in the implementation of planning and regulatory policies on housing and urbanism, and to promoting inclusive cities, with a gender approach that would address existing inequalities.
Furthermore, the government representatives agreed to promote best practices for capturing and sharing the land value increases arising from public investment, and to carry out public policies that would expand housing finance for sectors with fewer resources.
The regional intergovernmental forum – which promotes the equitable and sustainable development of human settlements, housing and cities – was inaugurated on Monday at ECLAC’s headquarters and brought together senior authorities from 17 countries, along with representatives of United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations. The meeting’s closing session was led by Carlos Montes, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning of Chile.
In the resolution, the countries pledged to foster more sustainable human settlements, taking into account the effects of climate change that impact populations with fewer resources, and to strengthen coordination between local governments, intermediate and civil society.
Finally, the governments committed themselves to contributing to fulfillment of the targets of the 2030 Agenda and the proposals of the New Urban Agenda, as well as to promoting and deepening the Urban and Cities Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean, developed by ECLAC, as a tool for follow-up, exchanging experiences on and monitoring these goals.
The MINURVI Forum is the space for intergovernmental coordination and cooperation among the region’s countries in the area of sustainable development of human settlements.
It is made up of the Ministers of State and other government officials who have authority, in their respective countries, over matters related to housing and the sustainable development of human settlements. This entity was created in 1992 and its first declaration was made in the city of Santiago, Chile.