Bahar Muradova: Women's participation in decision-making creates safer cities

Strengthening women's participation in urban planning and ensuring adequate housing has been recognized as one of the key conditions for building sustainable cities of the future.

As reported by BAKU.WS, Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, spoke at the Women's Assembly ceremony dedicated to the joint development of gender-transformative strategies for ensuring adequate housing for all women and girls. She stated that the effectiveness of modern urban policy directly depends on cross-sectoral coordination and integrated approaches.

According to her, gender-transformative policies must become an integral component of urban governance.

B. Muradova emphasized that the equal participation of women in strategic planning and decision-making processes creates conditions for cities to become safer, more accessible, and more responsive to social needs. She also noted the importance of strengthening cooperation between the state, the private sector, and civil society.

During her speech, she mentioned the conference "Promoting Women's Participation in Architecture and Urban Planning Processes," held on April 23, 2026, in Baku. The event was jointly organized by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, the Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, and the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan.

It was also noted that within the framework of COP29, held in Baku in 2024, the importance of jointly addressing climate resilience, social inclusivity, and urban development was once again raised. In this context, the need to build a sustainable city model based on policies that take into account the needs of people, especially women and vulnerable groups, was emphasized:

"The future of sustainable cities depends on integrated policies that take into account the needs of people, especially women and vulnerable groups," stated Bahar Muradova.

In conclusion, the key priorities outlined included strengthening legal and institutional mechanisms, broader involvement of women in decision-making processes in urban planning and climate policy, as well as the integration of safety, mobility, and access to social services into urban planning.