Habitat Norway is a Norwegian non governmental organisation with the overall aim to promote the interest and awareness of settlement issues around the world. The organisation was established in order to put settlement issues on the Norwegian Development Policy Agenda. Habitat Norway is a member of the Habitat International Coalition.
The organisation was founded in 1988 as a result of the activities carried out during the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. The organisation is attached to the Norwegian Branch of International Federation of Housing and Planning, and is open to all professionals; it has members representing many different disciplines such as architecture, engineering, sociology, human geography, and social anthropology. The activities consist mainly of lectures and seminars, sometimes in cooperation with other organisations. Habitat Norway arranges a seminar in October each year in celebration of the World Habitat Day.
The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
The theme of this year’s World Habitat Day on Monday 2 October 2006 is Cities, magnets of hope. This theme, chosen by the United Nations, is to remind all of us that the world is witnessing the greatest migration in its history of people into towns and cities. In 1950, one-third of the world’s people lived in cities. Just 50 years later, this rose to one-half and will continue to grow to two-thirds, or 6 billion people, by 2050. Cities are now home to half of humankind.
As the world becomes increasingly urban, it is essential that policymakers understand the power of the city as a catalyst for national development. Cities have to be able to provide inclusive living conditions for all their residents. Rich or poor, everyone has a right to the city, to a decent living environment, to clean water, sanitation, transport, electricity and other services. How we manage this is arguably one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.
Events 
