October 4: World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day was observed on October 4, 2021. This day is an initiative of United Nations.

Highlights

• This day is observed with the aim of promoting the basic right of adequate shelter and housing for everyone across the world which is densely populated and have been affected due to rapid urbanisation.
• This day is observed on the first Monday of October, every year.

The World Habitat Day this year was observed under the theme “Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world”.

The decision to observe World Habitat Day annually was taken in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Following the decision, the first World Habitat Day was observed in Nairobi, Kenya in 1986 on the theme “ ‘Shelter is my right’.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, in the year 1989, had introduced the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in a bid to encourage countries in finding a solution for habitat problems.