A/RES/53/180 Page 2 Recalling its resolution 52/190 of 18 December 1997, in which it, inter alia, decided to hold a special session of the General Assembly in the year 2001 for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), the modalities of which were to be decided on at its fifty-third session, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General2 containing proposals on the scope and organizational aspects of the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General2 concerning the modalities for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; 2. Decides that the special session for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) will be held in June 2001 for a period of three working days; 3. Reaffirms that the special session will be undertaken on the basis of and with full respect for the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements3 and the Habitat Agenda1 and that there will be no renegotiation of the existing agreements contained therein; 4. Decides to invite States members of the specialized agencies that are not members of the United Nations to participate in the work of the special session in the capacity of observers; 5. Also decides that the Commission on Human Settlements, which is currently scheduled at its seventeenth and eighteenth sessions to focus on monitoring the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and assessing its impact, should serve as the preparatory committee for the special session; 6. Further decides that the Commission, meeting as the preparatory committee for the special session, shall be open-ended to allow full participation of all States; 7. Stresses the need for the effective participation of local authorities, other Habitat Agenda partners and relevant actors of civil society, in particular the private sector and non-governmental organizations, in the preparations for the special session, as well as the need to ensure appropriate arrangements, taking into account the practice and experience gained at the Habitat II Conference, for their substantive contributions to and active involvement in the preparatory meetings and the special session, and invites the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with Member States, to propose to Member States appropriate modalities for their effective involvement in the special session; 8. Invites Governments to play an active role in the preparatory process, inter alia, through an intensified exchange of experiences, and welcomes the proposals received so far from Singapore to hold 2 A/53/267. 3 Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3–14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. /...