6 November 2008 - At this week's 4th World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China, UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa urged participants to work to strengthen the rule of law to achieve harmonious urbanization. The World Urban Forum, hosted by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction, is the world's summit forum of urban development and top conference concerning human habitation.
In his speech, entitled "Localising the Millennium Development Goals on the foundation of the rule of law", Mr. Costa argued that the rule of law is the "foundation for safer cities, and the basis for security, justice and development."
Read Mr. Costa's speech.