About the Awards

The World Habitat Awards are presented each year at the global celebration of World Habitat Day. This is organised each year on the first Monday of October by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), providing a unique opportunity to focus attention on the importance of shelter in people's lives.  

To date, ceremonies have been held in the United States of America (2009, 1993 and 1992), in Angola (2008),Netherlands and Mexico (2007), Italy and Russia (2006), Indonesia (2005), Kenya (2004), Brazil (2003 and 1995), Belgium (2002), Japan (2001), Jamaica (2000), People's Republic of China (1999), Dubai (1998), Germany (1997), Hungary (1996), Senegal (1994), and the USA (1993 and 1992).  

The theme for the 2007 World Habitat Day celebrations in Washington D.C.  was ‘Planning our Urban Future'.