3rd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum and Exhibition in Bangkok to Focus on Sustainable Shelter in an Age of Climate Change & Disasters

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3rd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum and Exhibition in Bangkok to Focus on Sustainable Shelter in an Age of Climate Change & Disasters * * * * Keynote Speaker Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Former Executive Director of UN-Habitat New! Exhibition for Technical and Financial Products & Services Bangkok, Thailand 30th March 2011 – The third affordable housing conference for the Asia-Pacific region will be held in Bangkok this September, announced co-organizers Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat for Humanity Thailand and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The confirmed keynote speaker for the 3rd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, a champion of development planning and advocate for the rights of women, youth and children. She will share insights on the theme of sustainable shelter in an age of climate change and disasters.  From 2000 to 2010, Mrs. Tibaijuka was the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat and the second highest ranking African woman at the UN. Most recently, she has been appointed the Minister of Land, Housing and Human Settlements Development of the United Republic of Tanzania. “We are extremely pleased that Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka will be our keynote speaker for the Forum. The theme is an exciting and relevant one, which will draw other noteworthy speakers representing governments, academia, the private and public sectors,” said Dr. Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, Chairman of the board of Habitat for Humanity Thailand. Asia-Pacific Vice-President of Habitat for Humanity International, Mr. Rick Hathaway added “This affordable housing forum builds on the success of the first two forums where we saw delegate numbers doubled and the feedback we received affirmed the need for such a dialogue platform.” The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, to be held from 7 to 9 September 2011 at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, will for the first time include an exhibition that features technical and financial services and products that address the shelter needs of the poor and vulnerable. The organizers are expecting about 800 participants to attend the forum this year. The 2nd APHF was attended by 440 delegates, representing 36 countries and one Special Administrative Region. The 1st APHF saw a total of 230 participants from 28 countries. The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is an affordable housing conference and exhibition for key shelter representatives from government, non-governmental organizations, private sector, academia and youth. It addresses the urgent and widespread problem of substandard housing in the context of building sustainable homes and resilient communities in a changing global climate. The APHF3 agenda includes the need for workable long-term shelter responses to the impact of disasters brought on by climate change. For more information, please visit www.aphousingforum.org.   - ends -   About Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity International is a global non-government organization that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. Habitat has experience in post-disaster reconstruction - in the Asia-Pacific region, Habitat has helped close to 25,000 tsunami-hit families to rebuild their lives following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. About Habitat for Humanity Thailand Habitat for Humanity Thailand is a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty housing and homelessness by constructing simple, decent and affordable houses with low-income families. HFH Thailand welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1998, Habitat for Humanity Thailand has provided 6,000 simple, decent and affordable houses for families in need and served more than 30,000 people. HFH Thailand has served over 1,900 families in its response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.