Public spaces to play are important to children's health and development and are a core right. Yet with increasing urbanization, access to public spaces to play is shrinking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This guide, developed by UN-Habitat, WHO and UNICEF, highlights the importance of public spaces for optimizing children's health and well-being, and realizing their comprehensive rights. It provides support for practitioners in developing and improving public…

​​Originally established in 2011 following the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the Shanghai Manual serves as a practical guide for mayors and urban practitioners advancing sustainable urban development. The Manual has been shaped by the principles of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, positioning it as a key resource in the global ambition of achieving sustainable cities. 

​As digitalisation rapidly reshapes urban life across health, education,…

2024 marked a transitional year for UN-Habitat’s Global Public Space Programme. The Programme delivered impactful action in 13 countries, benefiting over 70,000 people through initiatives advancing climate resilience, social inclusion, and crisis response. From neighborhood delivery to global platforms, the year reaffirmed public space as a foundation for equitable cities and a key enabler of housing, basic services, and sustainable urban development.

The Her City Guide - Mainstreaming inclusion in sustainable urban development through gender-transformative innovation

Her City supports urban development starting with the girl’s perspective. Involving girls in urban development will make the city better for everyone because girls plan and design with diversity and different needs in mind. Participatory processes are key for planning a city that works for everyone, and if we let citizens that are rarely heard be the experts,…

Global snapshot of spatial inclusion in cities. Using the latest data, this UN-Habitat report distils challenges and solutions across six regions (Africa, Asia–Pacific, Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, MENA, North America), pairing regional factsheets with urban regeneration case studies to guide inclusive policy and practice. Produced by the Flagship Programme Inclusive Communities, Thriving Cities.

This publication presents a summary of UN-Habitat’s gender equality impact over the past five years, in line with the Beijing reporting cycle. Using examples of UNHabitat’s work across the different regions, from Nepal to Brazil, this document aims to make a clear case of the interconnected and mutually re-enforcing relationship between gender equality, women’s empowerment, and sustainable urban development.

As the world continues to urbanize, cities face greater challenges in responding to humanitarian crises and achieving sustainable post-conflict development that upholds everyone’s right to adequate housing. The impacts of conflict are increasingly being experienced in urban areas around the world – as seen in modern crises such as those in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Yemen and Syria – putting the housing, land and property (HLP) rights of civilians at risk. HLP issues arise in conflict contexts,…

Evictions remove people from their homes, sometimes legally if in the public interest and with no alternatives. Forced evictions violate human rights. Authorities must justify evictions, consult affected communities, provide notice, and offer compensation. Evictions must be safe, with no unnecessary force. Afghanistan’s legal protections exist but remain uncertain post-2021, making advocacy crucial to prevent forced evictions.

This brief provides information on legal mechanisms to protect the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights of women in Afghanistan. The guidance note is not a legal document, but provides information and analysis from the Housing, Land and Property Task Force (HLPTF). The HLPTF is a sub-cluster of the Protection Cluster, and part of Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Country Team. The content of this brief is extracted from UN-Habitat’s (forthcoming) Housing, Land and Property Rights Guide.