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Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2-3 November 2002
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister
of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, presented
the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the
Living Environment (DIABP) to 10 exemplary initiatives which brought
about significant changes to cities and communities in Argentina,
Benin, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Lebanon, Namibia,
and Spain.
The award ceremony was held at Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, a
historic building overlooking Dubai Creek. Congratulatory speeches
by Qassim Sultan, Director-General, Dubai Municipality and Daniel
Biau, Deputy Executive Director, UNHABITAT were read.
Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hamdan unveiled an eight-meter replica
of the award trophy installed by Dubai Municipality on Al Seef Street,
overlooking Dubai Creek. The monument will stand as a permanent
tribute to the contribution of the Dubai Award in the global quest
for sustainable urbanisation and the improvement of people's living
conditions.
The practices that received the award were:
- Gender and Citizenship within the Integrated Programme for Social
Inclusion in Santo Andre, Brazil.
- The Mothers Centres International Network.
- The Humanitarian News Agency, "Red Solidaria", Argentina
- Action Programme for Sustainable Guangzhou, China
- Liveable Region Strategic Plan (LRSP) for the Greater Vancouver
Regional District, Canada
- Protection and Rehabilitation of the Historical World Heritage,
Santiago de Compoistela Spain
- Area Based Assessment Of Property Tax in Patna, Bihar (India)
- Relocation of Backyard Tenants, Namibia
- Program for the Protection of the Environment - Pr.A.P.E., Benin
- Women's Contribution in Sustainable Rural Development, Deir
el Ahmar, Lebanon
In his welcome speech, Qassim Sultan, Director General
of Dubai Municipality and Chairman of the 11-member DIABP Board
of Trustees, said the objective of making a submission to the award
was not only to win it but also to enable others to make use of
and learn from the best practices.
"A number of countries and organizations concerned with improving
the living standards of their people have already done so by transferring
their best practices and expertise to others. This is what we really
are aiming for," he remarked. These types of commendable works
were not new to the United Arab Emirates as the region has always
sought to encourage projects that serve humanity, he added. |
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