This study –conducted by the Global Platform for the Right to the City- aims to update and to go deeper in the contents of the right to the city through different kinds of mobilization that claim for this right all over the world. The research also aims to advance the recognition of the right to the city at local and global level, especially through its inclusion in the New Urban Agenda –which is to be defined in the Habitat III Conference, apart from what it was already settled in the Sustainable Development Goals (UN Assembly, September 2015).
Five researches were conducted in countries and cities in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. In Latin America, Brazil and Colombia were selected, focusing on the cities of Sao Paulo and Bogota; in Europe, Italy and Spain were the focus of the research, as well as the cities of London, Istanbul and Hamburg; and, in Africa, South Africa and Kenya were singled out, and the cities of Cairo and Jerusalem were also part of the research. The conducted researches aim at contributing to the understanding of the right to the city as a collective right of the cities’ inhabitants that comprises the dimension of adequate urban living conditions and social justice as well as of strengthening participation, direct democracy and citizenship in the cities.
Since the early 21st century, the right to the city has been built through an international network of civil society actors and national and local governments. It has also been developed in World Social Forums, Urban Social Forums and World Urban Forums.
The studies bring a critical analysis to revise and update the practices and forms of acting in favour of the right to the city – by identifying, registering and systematizing legislation, policies, programs, projects, practical experiences promoted by governmental bodies, public institutions, social and cultural organizations and groups of the society.
This research intends to stimulate the production and dissemination of knowledge on the right to the city in order to contribute with building equal, democratic and sustainable cities throughout the world. Through this study, the Global Platform members also aims to support the development of a global network of researchers gathered in an International Observatory of the Right to the City. Such organization would be oriented at monitoring and following up public policies and local, national and international initiative –particularly those regarding the compliance with the commitments made on behalf of this platform in the Post-2105 Millennium Agenda - Sustainable Development Goals and the World Urban Agenda defined during Habitat III.
The research was coordinated by Instituto PÓLIS (coordinating member of the National Forum for Urban Reform - FNRU) and by the Habitat International Coalition - Latin America (HIC-AL), and supported by the Ford Foundation.
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- Source: Habitat International Coalition (HIC)