AHG/Res. 117 (XIX) RESOLUTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Nineteenth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 6 to 12 June, 1983, Recalling the Lagos Plan of Action in particular Chapter IX (e) on Human Settlements, Recalling also UN General Assembly Resolution 37/221 of 20 December 1982 on the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, Seriously concerned that, despite the efforts of international organizations and of Governments at the national and local levels, the living conditions of the majority of the people in rural and urban settlements, especially in Africa, continue to deteriorate in both relative and absolute terms, Recognizing that special efforts need to be made by Member States and the international community in order to reverse this chronic deterioration in the shelter and living conditions suffered by the majority of the poor in the urban and rural settlements, Convinced that an international year devoted to the problems of homeless people in urban and rural areas in the developing countries could be an appropriate occasion to focus the attention of the international community of those problems, Further convinced that a special effort to address this fundamental issue will strengthen over-all national economic and social development, in furtherance of the goals and objectives of the Lagos Plan of Action for the Development of Africa: 1. WELCOMES the proclamation by the General Assembly of the Year 1987 as the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless;