The development and adaptation to new rules for the spatial development of Curaçao are closely linked to the jointly shared resolutions from the Conference Habitat III. From 17 to 20 October 2016, this conference took place in the city of Quito in Ecuador. A delegation from the Curaçao government also participated. Every 20 years such a conference is held in an important city in the world.
The first conference was held in 1976 in Vancouver, Canada and the second in 1996 in Istanbul, Turkey. It would be the global effort and support for tackling the housing problem, helping to rebuild sustainable urban development and the implementation of a new urban agenda and to provide direction.
As a result, the conference led to a concrete, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented result document called "the New Urban Agenda". It concerns the new urban agenda, which is implemented by all Member States. The agenda consists of 175 resolutions, which were also approved by the participating Member States at the conference.
But, what are these resolutions that can be so decisive for the spatial development of Curaçao? Most people do not know what these resolutions contain. The writer intends here to highlight a piece of the veil to promote a broader awareness among the public. Each time comes another major resolution offer. An important resolution concerns number 12 of the new urban agenda, which refers to the approach for realizing a shared vision.
The resolution says: “We strive to realize cities and human settlements where all persons can enjoy equal rights and opportunities, as well as their fundamental freedoms, guided by the goals and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including full respect for the international. In this respect, the New Urban Agenda is based on the universal declaration of human rights, international human rights treaties, the Millennium Declaration and the World Summit of 2005. It is also formulated by other instruments, such as the declaration on the right to development.”
The aim is also to place a considerable commitment on the table for all participating countries regarding physical actions that actively support the fight against poverty. And, regarding being able to realize equal development opportunities among citizens in new neighbourhoods to be built up. These starting points show that spatial development is not an abstract concept, but that it does intervene and tries to influence the quality of life of ordinary citizens in their daily lives.
Sharnon Isenia (Sharnon Isenia has a Masters' Degree in urban planning and business administration specializing in organizational engineering and community development)
