Urban charters: a framework for the right to the city and sustainable development

Cities are centers of economic and social opportunities and the vehicle of growth and development. However، rapid growth of urbanization during recent century –especially in developing countries- has led to several problems including environmental problems، crime، discrimination and inequality، exclusion، social، economic and geographical marginalization. So، urban sustainable development addresses environmental and social sustainability in cities. Since urban sustainability is related to balanced consumption and fair allocation and distribution of resources، defining urban duelers'' rights has an important position in urban planning. Codification and ratification of urban charters is a way that during two recent decades have been noted by local governments and civil society organizations for assertion of rights in national and international levels. This paper aims to define the necessities of urban charters codification in the Iranian cities، conceptual and theoretical bases of residents'' rights which support urban charter codification. Furthermore single and comparative analysis of urban charters around the world is considered.