UN-Habitat calls for the fifth World Urban Forum (WUF 5) to be held in Rio de Janeiro under the slogan of the right to the city. This represents a victory after 20 years of social movements and organizations’ struggles in Brazil to implement this collective right to the social justice in the city. However it also represents a risk that the right to the city could become an empty political slogan.
HIC has also has been involved in the construction of the right to the city during the same time period. The reasons that lead us to WUF are strategic:
- To co-organize activities at WUF with COHRE, FNRU (National Forum on Urban Reform in Brazil) and IAI (International Alliance of Inhabitants) on behalf of all the organizations that signed the urban movements declaration of WSF Belem, to give them a voice at WUF and avoid the effects of such a vain discourse as “bridging the urban divide”;
- To support local Brazilian social organizations that are organizing the Urban Social Forum, parallel to WUF 5, as part of the WSF 2010 call as agreed upon in Belém 2009;
- To take advantage of this major international gathering to host the HIC annual meetings; the Board Meeting and the General Assembly.
See the program of the activities on the blog
Last but not least, the HIC publication “Cities for All: Proposals and Experiences towards the Right to the City” in English, Spanish and Portuguese will be launched at WUF 5. This publication, produced by the HIC General Secretariat, is a compilation of 40 articles which analyze the many approaches for building the right to the city in the world. The various articles detail a diversity of victories and challenges, and articulate new forces to continue realizing the collective rights for each and everyone to live in peace and with dignity in all cities.
To support the logistics of HIC @ WUF, the General Secretariat has reserved accommodation for 52 people in double rooms in the Casa de Emaús do Mosteiro de São Bento, located a few blocks from WUF 5. The total price per person is USD $380 for the entire stay.
Rooms will be reserved in the order of confirmation of participation, with full details of the travel schedule. The rooms at the monastery have been reserved from March 20 to 26 without possibility of accommodation extension. To reserve a room with this accommodation, please contact the HIC General Secretariat (gs@hic-net.org).
Alternative accommodation is available at the Hotel São Francisco, located at Rua Visconde de Inhaúma, 95 – Centro, Rio de Janeiro. For inquiries and reservations, please contact the hotel directly (eventos@hotelsaofrancisco.com.br / reservas@hotelsaofrancisco.com.br).
