World Habitat Day was proclaimed by the United Nations to reflect on the shape and condition of our habitats in order to ensure there are enough adequate places to live. It is also hoped that this warning can remind the entire world community that everyone has the power and responsibility to shape the future of every city and human habitat. 

World Habitat Day, which was first established by the UN in 1985, began to be celebrated a year later, in 1986 with the theme "Shelter is My Right" with Nairobi hosting the first global observance. Furthermore, the host and theme always changed, including "Shelter for the Homeless" (1987, New York), "Shelter and Community" (1988, London), until in 2023 the theme was "Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery” with Baku, Azerbaijan as host. 

Indonesia has hosted Global Observance on Habitat Day several times, namely in 1989. At that time the theme raised was "Shelter, Health and Family" with Jakarta as the host. Then, this country hosted it again in 2005 with the theme "The Millennium Development Goals and the City". The last time Indonesia hosted it was in 2020 which was held virtually in the city of Surabaya in a pandemic situation with the theme "Housing For All: A Better Urban Future". A complete list of Global Observance hosts can be seen at the following link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ World_Habitat_Day. 

Indonesia's first opportunity to host the Global Observance was also the first time Habitat Day was celebrated nationally, namely on October 2 1989, during the era of President Soeharto's administration. The commemoration coincided with the presentation of awards from the Building and Social Housing Foundation as well as the announcement of the winners of the Greening New Residential Competition and the National Park Competition. Since then, every year Indonesia independently commemorates World Habitat Day (HHD) and World Cities Day (HKD). 

It is hoped that the national HHD and HKD commemorations, which are held alternately in various cities, can be a moment to increase public awareness of the basic rights of all people. This is in particular the right to be able to occupy a decent place to live, as well as the responsibility that all parties have in forming livable-friendly cities and settlements. Various national themes and locations for HKD and HDD implementation can be seen in the illustration below. 

The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honor was first awarded in 1989 and is one of the most prestigious settlement and urban awards in the world. This award aims to recognize initiatives that have made extraordinary contributions and steps in the fields of human settlements, housing provision, poverty, settlement improvement and development, as well as the quality of urban life to ensure no one leaves behind and are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, especially the emphasis on Goal 11. 

These awards are presented on the Global Commemoration of World Habitat Day to individuals, organizations, projects and partners of the Habitat Agenda which include governments and intergovernmental organizations or institutions including bilateral aid agencies, cities, local authorities, associations, civil society organizations, the private sector, National Habitat Committees or focal points, research and academic institutions, public or private foundations, multilateral institutions (UN Agencies, World Bank, etc.), media, and individuals. This award is given through a rigorous review and screening process for all candidates, until the winners are selected.

In recent years, there have typically been fewer than ten awards given. Since 2018, only five award winners have been selected, ideally from each different region of the world. 

Indonesia has received this award several times, the list is as follows:

2018: Tri Rismaharini, Mayor of Surabaya, for efforts to implement people-centered inclusive development, and various initiatives that prioritize low-income communities to ensure no one is left behind

2005: Professor Johan Silas, DKI Jakarta Government and the late Mr Tengku Rizal Nurdin, Governor of North Sumatra for the 1998-2005 term

1997: Special citation for Mr. Radinal Mochtar, Minister of Public Works.

1994: State Savings Bank.