The Right to the City as an Expression of the Right to Development

I would never have the audacity to dare to explain in the middle of Beijing the precepts and the essence of the content of the GDI, the Global Development Initiative, a way to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 agenda.

The GDI stating and defending its vision with six accompanying principles (a people-centered approach, development as a priority, benefits for all, innovation-driven development, harmony between humanity and nature), eight priorities (poverty reduction, food security, pandemics and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity), modalities of governance and actions.

Other better qualified colleagues have already done it today and will do it later.

Nevertheless, being a researcher and a researcher of the hidden facets of urban development, being a practitioner of urbanity, I am tempted to combine before this august assembly of scholars of rights, the right to the city as a component of the right to development, and moreover to see this under the light of reality of the new data.

Today, 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to riseto 68% by 2050.

The right to the city is a concept that puts forward the notion that all inhabitants of a city have the right to participate fully in urban life, to benefit from the resources and opportunities it offers, and to contribute to its development. This concept was developed by the French sociologist Henri Lefebvre in the 1960s and since then it has been widely discussed and studied by researchers, activists and policy makers. In this perspective, this contribution explores the right to the city as an essential component of the right to development, examining its main aspects and highlighting its importance for the construction of inclusive and sustainable societies.

The right to the city encompasses several dimensions, all of which are essential to guarantee a dignified life for urban dwellers. First of all, it implies the right to adequate housing, a healthy environment and basic infrastructure such as drinking water, sanitation, electricity and transport. In addition, it also includes the right to participation of the inhabitants of the city, the real users of the urban fabric, to the right of expression and association, as well as to decision-making on urban issues that concern them. Finally, the right to the city also implies equal opportunities, non-discrimination and equitable access to the services and opportunities offered by the city.

The right to development is a fundamental principle of international law which affirms that all individuals and peoples have the right to participate actively and equitably in the economic, social and cultural development of their society. It also stresses the importance of creating favorable conditions for the realization of this right, including the promotion of social justice, the reduction of poverty, the improvement of living conditions and the protection of the environment. In this light, the right to the city can be seen as an essential component of the right to development, as it aims to ensure that the benefits of urban development are accessible to all city dwellers, without discrimination or exclusion.

The link between the right to the city and the right to development is close, because the realization of one depends on the realization of the other. First, sustainable and inclusive urban development is essential for the realization of the right to the city. This implies the establishment of policies and programs that promote equitable access to basic services, the reduction of social and spatial inequalities, the protection of the environment, and the promotion of citizen participation at the level of the city itself. By guaranteeing these conditions, cities can become spaces where the fundamental rights of inhabitants are respected and where their well-being is improved.

On the other hand, the right to the city is also an essential means to promote human development and the right to development as a whole. By giving urban inhabitants the opportunity to participate in the life of the city, to benefit from its resources and to contribute to its development, we promote their emancipation, their autonomy and their ability to exercise their fundamental rights. Moreover, by promoting social justice and fighting against urban inequalities, the right to the city contributes to reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations.

The right to the city is of paramount importance for building inclusive and sustainable societies. First of all, it makes it possible to fight against social and spatial inequalities by guaranteeing equitable access to urban resources and opportunities. This contributes to reducing the marginalization of disadvantaged populations and promoting their social and economic inclusion. In addition, the right to the city promotes citizen participation and local democracy, allowing residents to get involved in decision-making processes that affect them. This strengthens their power to act and contributes to building fairer and more democratic societies. Furthermore, the right to the city is also crucial for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development. By encouraging integrated urban planning, the efficient use of resources, the promotion of sustainable transport and the preservation of green spaces, it contributes to reducing the ecological footprint of cities and preserving local ecosystems. This helps create healthy and resilient urban environments that support the health and well-being of residents. It is essential to recognize and promote the right to the city as an inseparable component of the right to development.

And what about all this in light of the post-lockdown urban realities of the recent pandemic that has changed the way we understand the city, life in the city and life of the city?

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on urban realities around the world. Lockdowns and social distancing measures have exacerbated existing inequalities in cities, highlighting the need for an approach to urban development that is equitable and accessible to all. In this context, the right to the city emerges as a component, not only essential but also urgent, of the right to development, offering perspectives and opportunities to rethink and transform our cities from a perspective of social justice.

Post-lockdown urban realities.

Lockdowns and social distancing measures have exposed existing inequalities in terms of access to essential services such as housing, drinking water, healthcare and public spaces. Across the world the solitude that was, and still is from one point of view, a defect, became a luxury. The most disadvantaged neighborhoods have been more affected by the spread of the virus due to precarious living conditions, high densities and difficulties in accessing health services. Moreover, the pandemic has accentuated economic disparities, with massive job losses in some sectors and growing hardship for informal workers and vulnerable groups.

The right to the city as a response to post-lockdown urban realities.

Faced with these post-lockdown urban realities, the right to the city is emerging as an essential framework to guide policies and actions aimed at promoting equitable and accessible urban development for all. It highlights the need to ensure equitable access to essential services, adequate housing, quality public spaces and economic opportunities for all city dwellers. The right to the city also emphasizes citizen participation and collective decision-making, allowing inhabitants to be actively involved in the planning and management of their living spaces.

To achieve equitable urban development accessible to all, several perspectives and actions are necessary:

a.to strengthen affordable housing policies: The housing crisis has been amplified by the pandemic, making it more urgent than ever to put in place effective policies to ensure affordable housing for all. This requires investment in the construction of social housing, regulations to prevent property speculation and mechanisms to protect tenants.

b.to improve essential services: Cities must invest in improving basic infrastructure, including access to drinking water, sanitation, electricity and health care. Disadvantaged neighborhoods must be prioritized to reduce disparities in essential services.

c. to promote sustainable mobility: The pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of urban transport systems. It is essential to promote sustainable modes of transport, such as accessible public transport, cycling and walking, by reducing dependence on the private car. This will help reduce mobility inequalities and improve air quality. Without spatial mobility there can be no social mobility.

d. to reduce digital inequalities: The pandemic has highlighted the importance of access to the internet and digital technologies. Cities must invest in digital infrastructure and put in place programs to reduce inequalities in access to technologies, especially for marginalized populations.

e. to encourage citizen participation: It is essential to involve the inhabitants in the decisions that concern them. Cities must set up inclusive and accessible citizen participation mechanisms, such as neighborhood councils, public consultations and online platforms, to enable residents to express their needs and aspirations.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted existing urban inequalities and highlighted the need for equitable and inclusive urban development. In this perspective, the right to the city emerges as an essential component of the right to development, offering perspectives and opportunities to rethink and transform our cities from a perspective of social justice. By strengthening affordable housing policies, improving essential services, promoting sustainable mobility, reducing digital inequalities and encouraging citizen participation, we can shape inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities for all their inhabitants.

For all this, we ask those who designed the GDI to include in it the measures that will allow the realization of the right to the city.

Allow me to close my speech by quoting Enrico Berlinguer who was secretary-general of the Italian Communist Party from 1972 to 1984.

“There is a level of development below which there can be no justice. But there is also a level of development above which there can be no justice either.”

Excerpt from Alexandros M. Modiano's Speech at the "Forum on Global Human Rights Governance".

(Alexandros M. Modiano is Chairman of the Board of West-East Urban Governance Institute)