Written by:
Sophia de Sousa
The UN Habitat Professionals Forum (HPF) recently launched The International Participatory Charter for Urban and Territorial Development to deliver the New Urban Agenda, along with 10 CASE STUDIES to illustrate the ten Participatory Principles of the Charter, at the 12th World Urban Forum. At the invitation of our friend and colleague Lucy Natarajan from UCL Bartlett, who has played a key role in developing these, The Glass-House was pleased to contribute a case study with research partners at Brunel University. Our Case study, which illustrated Principle 8, draws on findings from our collaborative research project Fostering creative citizens through co-design and public makerspaces.
This new International Participatory Charter arises from the HPF Roadmap to Recovery approved in 2022. The Charter has 10 Principles, and 15 Articles for Action. It draws on roundtables and other inputs from professionals and civil society, and seeks to implement Proposition 3: Greater engagement with Communities in line with an international framework of participation.
The Charter is action oriented, and the Case Studies show how the 10 Principles can be operationalised. They are critical to the success of the charter, just as participatory processes are critical for the long road of progress in urban development, and they need to be continually encouraged.
Follow these links to read the charter and accompanying case studies and play your part in championing the principles: