Baku: On May 22, discussions on urban planning, climate-resilient urbanization, and sustainable development continued on the final day of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku under the theme ‘Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities’.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the forum featured numerous dialogues, special sessions, and group meetings, culminating in the official closing and flag-lowering ceremonies.
A Women’s Roundtable titled ‘Adequate Housing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment’ was organized, featuring notable attendees such as Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, and Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat. Discussions focused on enhancing women’s housing and land rights, inclusive urban development, and sustainable urbanization. The session emphasized the importance of inclusive housing policies and increased women’s participation in urban planning.
A session on ‘Post-Conflict Urban Reconstruction: The Critical
Role of Humanitarian Mine Action’ highlighted the impact of mine threats on recovery and reconstruction efforts. Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), spoke about Azerbaijan’s demining operations, which have cleared substantial areas of mines and unexploded ordnance, integrating these efforts into urban planning and development.
Another panel discussion addressed sustainable restoration and development in various Azerbaijan districts, focusing on ‘smart city’ and ‘smart village’ concepts. Additionally, the forum hosted its first event on the rights of indigenous peoples, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural identity and ensuring cities are inclusive spaces for ethnic and religious communities.
The final press conference was attended by high-profile figures, including Amina Mohammed and Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture. Anar Guliyev highlighted the forum’s significance, noting the partic
ipation of over 58,000 individuals and the signing of a Letter of Intent with UN-Habitat to guide future forums.
Anacláudia Rossbach remarked on the record attendance and the forum’s unified message regarding the global housing agenda. With over 580 sessions, discussions centered on sustainable urban development and the necessity of transitioning from local initiatives to systemic transformation.
The forum concluded with the adoption of the “Baku Call to Action,” a document reflecting a collective vision for addressing the global housing crisis. The outcomes of WUF13 are expected to contribute to future discussions at the UN General Assembly’s mid-term review meeting on the New Urban Agenda in 2026.
The presidency of the World Urban Forum was officially transferred from Azerbaijan to Mexico during the closing ceremony, with the next session scheduled in Mexico City in 2028. The event concluded with a cultural program at the Baku Olympic Stadium, featuring national performances and the symbolic lowering of
the United Nations and Azerbaijan flags.