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As we enter this new millennium half the world population lives in cities and predictions are that by 2005 the degree of urbanization will have reached 65%. Potentially the cities are areas of great riches and economic, environmental, political and cultural diversity. The urban lifestyle influences the manner by which we establish ties with our fellow human beings and with the land.
However, contrary to this potentiality, in the development models current in the majority of third world cities we find only concentration of income and power and accelerated urbanization processes which contribute to the depredation of the environment and the privatisation of public spaces generating social and physical separation
Most cities are far from offering equitable conditions and opportunities to their inhabitants. A considerable portion of the urban populations is deprived or limited in the satisfaction of their basic necessities because of their economic, social, cultural, or ethic characteristic or because of gender or age. This favours the emergence of urban conflict although usually fragmented and incapable of producing significant change in the current development models
Faced with this reality, the civil society entities that have maintained contact since the 1st. World Social Forum in 2001, having analysed and debated the problem, took up the challenge to construct a sustainable model for urban society and lifestyle, based on first principles of solidarity, liberty, equality, dignity and social justice. A fundamental aspect of this model shall be the respect for different urban cultures and the balance between the urban and rural environments
Ever since the 1st. World Social Forum (held in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001), a grouping of popular movements, non-governmental organisations, professional associations, forums and country and international networks concerned with the social struggle for cities to be more democratic, just, human and sustainable, have been drawing up a World Letter defining the ideal characteristics of a city reflecting the undertakings and measures which should be assumed by civil society, local and national governments , international organisations etc which are necessary for all to live with dignity in our cities.
The World City Rights Letter is an instrument intended as a contribution to the urban struggle and as an aid in the process of recognition of the rights to the city in the international human rights system. These rights are understood as collective rights of all city inhabitants, especially the vulnerable and disfavoured, conferring legitimacy of action and organisation in accordance with their usages and customs in the search for full exercise of the right to an adequate standard of living.
Taken from the Preamble of the Proposal for a World Charter of the Rights of the City
Versión
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