WUF13 successfully concluded with high-level sessions and a record number of participants

On May 22 in Baku, within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), dedicated to the theme "Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements," discussions on urban planning, climate-resilient urbanization, and sustainable development continued on the final day of the forum.

As Report informs, on the sixth day of WUF13, numerous dialogues, special sessions, and panel meetings were organized, and the official closing ceremony and flag-lowering ceremony took place.

Within the framework of the forum, a women's roundtable was held on the topic "Affordable Housing for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment." The event was attended by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anaclaudia Rossbach, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Bahar Muradova, and Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom and sixth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations Patricia Scotland.

The session discussed issues of strengthening women's housing and land rights, inclusive urban development, safe urban environments, and sustainable urbanization. The speeches noted that the development of inclusive housing policies, expanding women's access to financial and credit resources, as well as their more active participation in urban planning processes and decision-making, play an important role in building more sustainable, safe, and inclusive cities.

Within the framework of WUF13, at the session "Post-Conflict Urban Recovery: The Critical Role of Humanitarian Mine Action," Chairman of the Board of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) Vugar Suleymanov delivered a speech. The session examined the impact of mine threats on recovery and reconstruction processes in the post-conflict period, issues of sustainable urban development, and ensuring public safety.

Vugar Suleymanov stated that the mine threat slows down the recovery process not only in Azerbaijan but also in various countries around the world, limits development opportunities, and creates serious risks to people's safety. He noted that since 2020, Azerbaijan has been implementing large-scale measures in the field of humanitarian demining. To date, more than 270,000 hectares of territory have been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, and over 250,000 mines and explosive devices have been neutralized. It was emphasized that within the framework of the "Great Return" program, demining activities are fully integrated into urban planning, reconstruction, and development processes.

Within the framework of WUF13, hosted by Baku, a panel discussion was held on the topic "From Urbicide to Revival: Sustainable Recovery, Resettlement and Development in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, Khojavend, Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan Districts." The event featured speeches by Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts Vahid Hajiyev, and Director