A joint opening session of the assemblies was held within the framework of the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).
Medianews.az reports that the session moderated by Aditya Kumar, an advisor and chief expert on stakeholder engagement at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), was dedicated to the topic "How can we turn shared priorities into momentum for collective action?"
The event combines storytelling, high-level dialogue, and interactive participation to reveal common priorities and stimulate initial commitments. In an era characterized by increasing housing challenges, climate pressures, and deepening inequalities, this opening goes beyond the formal ceremony, activating participants as a force that directly contributes to the forum's final outcomes.
Speaking at the session, WUF13 national coordinator and Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture Anar Guliyev said that today the crisis related to settlement worldwide is not only about buildings; it concerns the safety of people and accessibility of opportunities. This issue, directly linked to the climate, also involves future resilience. Therefore, the World Urban Forum is extremely important.
He noted that WUF represents various stakeholders. Its main strength lies in the fact that we must promote an inclusive approach. This brings together different social layers of society as equal people and parties. Assemblies represent our strongest values. The forum brings together the voices of women, children, youth, and civil society. Local government management groups must also be engaged in all these discussions to consolidate the outcomes related to WUF13.
Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anclaudia Rossbach thanked all partners involved in organizing the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), especially Azerbaijan. She said this gives meaning to the work of the assembly.
The Executive Director emphasized that this is a global platform and is extremely important for solving urban planning problems. Government representatives, civil societies, and others participating in the forum will share how they see the future of urbanization. Discussions will inspire processes. The participation of business communities here is also essential. The forum is an important platform for building new partnerships.
Speaking at the event, Clara Brugada, Mayor of Mexico City, said that this Forum is a strategic space where we will build the future of urban planning for humanity. There is a need for open, inclusive cities and multilateral cooperation promoted by local governments. These activities should ensure the socio-economic development and ecological transformation of cities.
Imtiaz Ahmed, a child rights defender and journalist from Bangladesh, said that challenges and opportunities are the same for every slum dweller. According to him, a home for children is not just a physical structure; it is the foundation of every child's rights. Since a child without a home cannot access fundamental rights like staying healthy, clean water, hygiene, and sanitation without a roof over their head. Imtiaz Ahmed noted that when a home is not stable and safe, education becomes inaccessible and all efforts turn into a struggle for survival. He emphasized that a safe home is a fortress protecting children from violence and a foundation for development.
Celine Dcruz, founding member of "Slum Dwellers International" (SDI), who has closely worked with urban poor in Mumbai, said she understands well what disempowerment means and what it means to later gain that power. She mentioned that local authorities sometimes feel helpless, seeing the big problems in the city and not knowing where to start. She said the same situation has arisen in Mumbai with 6 million people living in slums. Celine Dcruz spoke about the work being done to solve this problem.
Samir Mammadov, representative of the United Nations Global Compact Network, said that the main focus of the organization he represents is on the social sector, development, and business. He noted that they are a membership organization promoting responsible business and development for the application of more sustainable practices.
Noting that today's business reality has changed, Samir Mammadov said: "Sustainability is now part of shareholder value. This directly turns into money in the form of either losses or profits. This requires innovation. As in every sector of business, here too, you either win or lose."
According to Ana Cristina Ingles, representative of the Angola City Lab, a safe home is not just a shelter but more than that. In her opinion, it means access to opportunities, health, and education, but above all, it means obtaining stability, dignity, and a sense of belonging. "I have come here with my individual will and action to contribute to the struggle of every woman and to help create the necessary conditions for those aspirations. WUF is an ideal platform for this," Ana Cristina Ingles added.