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In Resolution 40/202 of 17 December 1985, the UN General Assembly designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day.

Each year, World Habitat Day takes on a new theme chosen by the United Nations based on current issues relevant to the Habitat Agenda. The themes are selected to bring attention to UN-Habitat’s mandate to promote sustainable development policies that ensure adequate shelter for all.

This year, the United Nations chose the theme ‘Voices from Slums.’ The World Habitat Day 2014 campaign aims to recognize life in slums and give a voice to slum dwellers for improving quality of living conditions in existing slums.

"This year, World Habitat Day is devoted to giving a voice to slum dwellers. Often, people in the slums live in near-anonymity -- no address, no census and no idea when their living conditions will improve [...] Let us hear from people who live in slums what has worked and what has not – and what we need to do," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.