REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) arrived at the State Palace at 11:20 a.m. local time on Tuesday to attend World Habitat Day 2015.

The president and Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono will address the ceremony to mark World Habitat Day, which is observed every year on the first Monday of October.

Present at the ceremony were environmentalist Erna Witoelar, Djarot Syaiful Hidayat, Golkar Party politician Theo Sambuaga, and West Java Governor Ahmad Heriawan, among others.

According to the United Nations News Center, in a bid to mark World Habitat Day this year on Monday, top United Nations officials have urged for the creation of "public spaces for all."

"Public spaces are crucial for poor and vulnerable citizens. Improving access to them and making them safe for women and girls increases equity, promotes inclusion, and combats discrimination," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted in a statement.

The UN chief remarked that high-quality public spaces encourage the people to communicate and collaborate with each other and to participate in public life.

"Public spaces can also provide basic services, enhance connectivity, spawn economic activity, and raise property values while generating municipal revenues," he affirmed.

However, Ban pointed out that public spaces require meticulous collaboration between the local authorities, local inhabitants, and other actors.

He also highlighted the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal 11, which aims to "make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable," noting that the goal represented a "broad international consensus that recognizes sustainable urban development as a transformational approach."

Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Joan Clos, highlighting the importance of the day's theme, remarked in a statement that "the character of a city is defined by its streets and public spaces."

"Public spaces are vital components of a prosperous city. Well designed and managed public spaces are key assets for a city's functioning and have a positive impact on its economy, environment, safety, health, integration, and connectivity," Clos emphasized.

According to Clos, the quality of life of the people in cities is directly related to the state of its public spaces.

"Public spaces offer room for social and cultural interaction and can foster a sense of belonging and pride in an area. A public space that is open to all, regardless of ethnic origin, age, or gender, offers a democratic forum for the citizens and society," he remarked.

Clos noted that without adequate public spaces, cities can become increasingly isolated, and the result can be a polarized city where social tensions are likely to flare up and where cases of crime and violence are on the rise.

He stated that World Habitat Day is being celebrated this year through a partnership between UN-Habitat and the "HeforShe" initiative promoted by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

The two United Nations agencies are aiming to promote the role of men and women in the creation of "gender-equal public spaces for all."

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