The calls voiced at the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku should become one of the main directions of the global urban development agenda.
“Elchi” reports that this was stated by Anaklaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), at the closing ceremony of WUF13 in Baku.
According to her, government representatives, 88 ministers, 130 mayors, representatives of local and regional government bodies, civil society organizations, private sector leaders, and communities at the forum united around one main idea: housing policy must be at the center of human well-being.
Rossbach stated that housing is one of the key tools for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11, which envisions building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.
The UN-Habitat head noted that at the halfway point of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, the message from Baku is clear: the next decade must be characterized by accelerated implementation, larger-scale results, and measurable changes in people’s lives.
She emphasized the importance of re-accepting housing as a state responsibility, strengthening cities and communities, stopping forced evictions, transforming housing finance, and basing decisions on reliable data.
Rossbach added that the housing issue should be kept in focus as one of the key factors accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals during the UN High-Level Political Forum to be held in July and the review process of the New Urban Agenda.
The UN-Habitat head called on forum participants to carry the calls from Baku to their own countries and cities.
“The world must hear this call from Baku,” Rossbach emphasized.
She noted that the knowledge, experience, creative ideas, and solutions gathered within the framework of WUF13 should contribute to the shaping of future cities.
Rossbach thanked the government of Azerbaijan and partner organizations for their contribution to the organization of the forum.