1
II WORLD ASSEMBLY OF CITIES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Rio de Janeiro, 6 May 2001
FINAL DECLARATION
We, representatives of local governments and their associations of the whole world, serving the
populations of urban and rural communities, small, medium and large towns, metropolises and regions, as
participants in the second World Assembly of Cities and Local Authorities, organised by the Coordination
of World Associations of Cities and Local Authorities, on the occasion of the IULA-FMCU Unity
Congress and of the Metropolis Board of Directors, agree firstly:
to renew the commitments and recommendations adopted in the Final Declaration of the first
World Assembly of Cities and Local Authorities, recalling that the Final Declaration of the
HABITAT II Summit, adopted in 1996, recognises the essential role of local governments and
their associations in achieving the efficient management of urbanisation processes,
to welcome with the greatest satisfaction the progress made on the establishment of a single
voice for local governments and their associations.
to underline the need to continue mobilising all concerned players in the face of the breadth and
acuteness of the challenges linked to the future of cities at the world scale,
to manifest our support to the Declaration of the Millennium Summit, adopted by the United
Nations in September 2000. We, as local governments, propose ourselves, before the United
Nations and the entire international community, as key partners in the implementation of its
objectives.
Aware that:

the tensions resulting from globalisation are felt especially at the local level, and that they are
accompanied by new demands for our local governments and their associations;

the defence of the values of solidarity and citizenship is the responsibility of each and every one of
us, at local, regional and global levels;

international conferences organised in recent decades have not been able to mobilise the necessary
resources to sustainably meet the challenges posed by the evolution of our cities and societies;

urban concentrations continue to grow, and that in the 21 st century, for the first time in the history of
humanity, more than half the world’s population will live in an urban milieu;

to rise to the challenges of the cities of tomorrow, we must discuss and act locally and globally with
all the players involved in the sustainable development of cities, from the triple perspective of their
economic development capacity, the maintenance of social cohesion and the preservation of
ecological balances.
2
We reaffirm:

our conviction that decentralisation processes simultaneously address the conditions of sustainable
urban development and the growing aspiration of populations to assure the role of democracy and the
citizens’ place in the city, within the respect of the fundamental principles defined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (art. 21).

our will to continue to increase collaboration with UNCHS (United Nations Centre on Human
Settlements) as the key link between local authorities and the United Nations system.

our adherence to the principle of good governance, on the basis that it represents the respect for local
democratic practices, and leads to a more efficient and transparent management of public services. In
this respect, we welcome and support the UNCHS Global Campaign on Urban Governance and the
Cities Alliance programme by the United Nations and the World Bank.

the role of local governments and their associations in the design and implementation of public
policies, in partnership with the State, to articulate national priorities and local dynamics, particularly
in the domains of city planning, transportation and housing. In this respect, we welcome and support
the UNCHS Global Campaign on Secure Tenure.

our commitment to address the issues and challenges facing rural communities and, recognising the
interlinkages between urban and rural settlements, to achieve balanced and sustainable development
policies and programmes.

our conviction of the need to establish and adopt sustainable means of financing urban development.

the importance of local governments, as full-fledged economic players, but also as catalysts,
stimulating and structuring partnerships in a given territory.
We undertake:

to further strengthen our participation as partners in implementing the Habitat Agenda and evaluating
its policies, developing a constructive dialogue with States, the international community and all the
actors involved in the evolution of our cities.

to pursue the unification of the local government movement, for the promotion of local democracy
and self-government, human rights, peace and solidarity between peoples, good governance and
citizenship.

to foster the essentianl role of local governments in producing local, responsive services and
guaranteeing access to all, in order to equitably satisfy the essential needs of all citizens and
contribute to local economic dynamism.

to promote and develop directo international cooperation between cities, local governments and their
associations, favouring exchanges of experience and know-how, and partnerships between local
actors.

to facilitate the definition of integrated planning strategies in order to master the effects of urban
development, favouring frameworks for collective action and solidarity in and between cities.
3

to continue to ensure the representation and participation of all inhabitants, men and women, in
decision-making.
We ask the international associations of local governments:

to complete the unification process for the creation of a world organisation of local governments and
their associations.

to develop effective partnerships with international cooperation and financing agencies.

to seek the reinforcement of the consultative role for local government within the United Nations
system, through a new status and a broader role for the Advisory Committee of Local Authorities
therein.

to promote the commitment for the improvement of the living conditions of at least 100 million
people living in slums, in accordance with the United Nations´ Millennium Declaration.

to pursue the partnership with the United Nations after Habitat II on the World Charter of Local SelfGovernment, for the adoption of an internationally agreed set of principles on decentralisation, the
empowerment of local governments and on local democracy.
 to revise the structure of WACLAC (World Associations of Cities and Local Authorities Coordination)
by modifying its rules, in order to assure its role before the international community.
We ask the States:

to establish an intergovernmental forum within the United Nations, aimed at seeking agreement on an
international framework of guiding principles of local self-government, ultimately to be set out in a
World Charter of Local Self-Government.

to fully support the recent decision of UNCHS to intensify dialogue among all spheres of government
and Habitat partners on all issues related to decentralisation and the strengthening of local
goverments.

to recognise that decisions should be taken and services delivered at the most local level of
government, consistent with the nature of the decisions and services involved, and to pursue the
adoption of legislative frameworks that are adapted to these goals.

to support the emergence, and strengthen the development, of national associations of local
governments, and to engage in a true partnership with them, particularly on issues related to
financial resources and fiscal autonomy.

to recognise and support the development of direct cooperation between local governments, and to
guarantee the partnership models that will enable complementary work and effective inter-linkages
with bilateral and/or multilateral cooperation programmes.

to include local governments´ representatives, in the spirit of partnership, in national delegations to
UNCHS and other relevant United Nations bodies.
4

to request the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, given our grave concern at the effects of world
climatic change on cities.

to assure the existence of monitoring and assessment committees at the national level, open to all
involved players, with a view to implementing the Habitat Agenda.
We ask the United Nations and international development aid agencies:

to welcome the unification of the world local government movement, and, in this perspective, to note
the emergence of a single interlocutor speaking on behalf of local governments around the world.

to mobilise the necessary resources to undertake and deliver the renewal of action strategies in the
urban setting.

to work closeley with local governments and their associations in the definition and implementation
of development aid programmes at local level, and seek new financial tools with are directyl
accessible by local governments in developing countries.