Press - Official Closing Press Conference of WUF13 (WUF13)

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon and welcome to the official closing press conference of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum with 13 here in Baku.
My name is Katriin Bisgen.
I am Chief of communications at UN Habitat, and I will be moderating this closing press conference.
It is my pleasure to do so.
Over the past week, global leaders, policymakers, urban experts, and stakeholders from around the world were together here at the Olympic Stadium discussing one of the most defining challenges of our time.
How do we house the world safely, inclusively, and sustainably? This year's theme was housing the world, safe and resilient cities and communities.
This forum comes at a critical time as the global housing crisis is deepening, driven mainly by climate change, conflicts, and growing inequality.
This edition has been the largest today, and we are really proud of it.
We are honored to be joined today by distinguished guests representing both the international community and the host country, Azerbijan.
I would like now to introduce our speakers this afternoon.
Mr.
Anal Gulev, Chairman of the State Committee of Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbijan and W 13, National Coordinator.
We also have the pleasure of having miss Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations with us.
Miss Anna Claudia Rosbach under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Habitat, and also we have a representative of incoming host of Wu 14, Mexico City, represented by Maria Victoria Roma Caballero, ambassador of Mexico in Azerbijan.
We will begin with opening remarks from the Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and architecture of the Republic of Azerbijan, Mr.
Anar Gliv.
Mr.
Chairman, the floor is yours.
Thank you, Katrina.
Dear miss Mohammed, Mr.
Rosberg, ambassador, distinguished representatives of Media, ladies and gentlemen.
The past days in Baku, I've marked an important moment not only for Azerbijan but for the global urban community.
We have welcomed governments, mayors, international institutions, financial institutions, academia, civil society, youth, women, private sector, local communities all united by a shared commitment to shaping more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban future.
Today, Warth 13 Baku is a natural continuation of consistent efforts of Azerbijan in order to align our policies with the new urban agenda and sustainable development goals.
It is a global extension of the national conversations we have been building over the past years.
Hosting the World Urban Forum is both a great responsibility and a strong expression of trust from the international community and from UN Habitat.
We deeply value this partnership and close cooperation that has made Wolf 13 possible.
Wolf 13 has demonstrated the truly global nature of this platform.
53.5 thousand participants took part actively, including about 50,000 in person and more than 3,000 online.
More than 400 main events were organized across the forum.
A 400 speakers from 125 countries, 340 out of them international and 60 from Azerbijan contributed to the main program.
Wo 13 introduced several important innovations that will shape the future of the forum and the global cooperation.
The leaders State segment held for the first time in the history of the WF at the initiative of His Excellency, Mr.
Ihamev, President of the Republic of Azerbijan became one of the defining moments of Wuf 13.
The participation of 27 heads of state and government, high level guests, and leaders of international organizations clearly demonstrated strong political commitment to advancing the global urban agenda and strengthening international cooperation in sustainable urban development, shared commitment to ensuring adequate housing and resilient communities for all.
Another important milestone of W 13 was the reimagined ministerial meeting held under the chairmanship of Azerbijan to review the implementation of the new urban agenda.
Out of 111 participating countries, 80 were represented at the level of ministers and deputy ministers, while the remaining delegations participated at ambassadorial and senior official level.
Ministerial meeting was followed by thematic panels that created a more interactive and solution oriented platform for dialogue on housing, climate resilience, social inclusion, and multilateral cooperation.
The rich exchange of views and practical recommendations generated through these discussions contributed significantly to the development of the chair summary and helped build momentum toward the high level review of the New Urban Agenda at the United Nations high level meeting and General Assembly later this year.
Azerbijan hosting Guth 13 reflects our national transformation agenda.
As the country, we're advanced large scale urban renewal, modernizing cities, expanding green infrastructure, improving housing, strengthening climate resilience, and building smarter and more inclusive communities.
In our liberated territories, we are undertaking one of the most ambitious reconstruction efforts globally, rebuilding cities and villages based on principles of sustainability, smart planning, and human dignity.
Its own financial resources, our national and national capacity, the country is building 12 cities and more than 300 villages from the ground up within the framework of the Great Return Program, ensuring the safe and dignified return of former internal displaced persons to their ancestral lands.
Master plans for about 110 cities, towns and villages have already been approved while plans for other settlements are currently under development.
WOV 13 will leave important legacies beyond the forum itself.
A significant lasting legacy of WV 13 is the launch of Baku Urban Award initiated by Azerbijan and to be organized with UN Habitat as the only international award presented within the framework of the World Urban Forum Process.
Designed to bridge practice, knowledge, and policy, the award reflects Azerbian's commitment to promoting innovation, excellence, and international cooperation in sustainable urban development and particularly housing.
We have signed a letter of intent with Z and Habitat to develop operational guidance based on the Baku standards, supporting future host countries in organizing World Urban forums.
Another significant milestone is the adoption of the ISO 2,221 standard at the national level, embedding sustainability into the organization of major international events in Azerbijan.
These achievements reflect our commitment not only to successful delivery, but also to long term institutional impact.
B 13 was deeply inclusive in design and implementation.
Civil society was broadly and actively engaged in the forum accounting for 12% of all participants.
Establishment of business and innovation hubs, strengthened engagement with the private sector investors, startups, enhancing the role of innovation and urban transformation.
It is pleasant to see broader representation of the private sector accounting for 13% of all participants.
Forum clearly demonstrated that urban transformation is most effective when governments, communities, and partners work together.
The defining future of WO 13 was the Urban Expo, one of the most dynamic components of the forum.
Total exhibited space of the expo is more than 10,000 square meters.
In total, 260 parts, participating organizations from 81 countries represented 122 stands and pavilions.
Participants included governments, academia, civil society, public institutions, and private sector, including startups and innovations.
Azerbijani Pavilion covering 1.5 thousand square meters presented the country's vision and urban transformation journey under the concept from vision to action with people, showcasing heritage, sustainable planning, smart cities, housing, tourism and reconstruction in liberated territories.
Pavilion itself hosted around 30 events with nearly 1.5 thousand local and international participants and served as an important platform for dialogue, cooperation, and knowledge exchange.
This diversity reflect the core strengths of the World Urban Forum, its inclusivity.
WOV 13 was broadly a stakeholder led forum where all actors contributed as equal partners in shaping urban future.
In this regard, we are pleased that WOV 13 was broadly a stakeholder led forum, fully reflected the inclusive and participatory nature of the WF process, including through the Stakeholder Composed Advisory Board that contributed to the development of Baku call to action as a key outcome of WOV 13.
The first time, WOV 13 hosted the NGO Forum, bringing together around 800 participants from more than 100 countries.
This important platform highlighted the essential role of civil society, grassroots organizations, and local communities in shaping inclusive, resilient, and people centered urban futures.
The NGO Forum adopted the Baku Declaration on Urban resilience and global cooperation initiated by Azerbijani NGOs and signed by 441 civil society representatives from 82 countries participating at WOV 13.
Declaration reaffirmed the importance of solidarity, partnership, and coordinated international action in addressing urban challenges, the global housing crisis, and the need for more inclusive urban development.
NGO Pavilion hosted 59 events with about 3,000 local and international participants, reflecting the strong engagement and substantive contribution of Azerbijan to the thematic agenda of the forum.
The Pavilion of Global South NGO platform hosted around 30 events attended by 1.5 thousand local and international participants.
WV 13 also extended beyond the conference space through Baku Urban Week, 55 events, and move 13 festivals across nine cities, more than 115,000 people engaged with discussions on sustainable urban development.
The forum also received wide global visibility supported by more than 1,000 accredited media representatives, ensuring that its messages reached audience worldwide.
Youth engagement was another defining strength.
25,000 volunteers contributed to the organization and smooth operation of the forum, reflecting the professionalism, hospitality, and dynamism of Azerbijani youth.
Their participation represents one of the most valuable legacies of Both 13 through knowledge exchange, skills development, and stronger youth engagement in global urban processes.
WOV 13 generated important new initiatives.
A high level forum entitled Breathing Live In the New Urban Agenda, Integrating Air Quality and Green Infrastructure for resilient cities was organized on the margins of WOV 13 at the initiative of miss Lela Aa, Vice President of the Haydar Le Foundation and the founder and head of the Idea Public Union.
Forum emphasized the importance of clean air and green infrastructure as essential components of sustainable urban development and healthy living environments.
The communique adopted following the meeting called on the international community to recognize clean air as standing thematic priority within the future World urban forums.
Smart Sustainable Settlements for Safe Return package or four SRP was introduced as a practical recovery framework and an important step toward developing integrated solutions for climate resilient, environmentally sustainable, peace positive, and people centered urban recovery, particularly in fragile and post conflict settings.
Dear mayor representatives, WOV 13 is not only a conference, it is a platform for action.
The team of WV 13 placed housing at the center of the global urban agenda and reaffirmed that access to adequate housing, affordable, safe, and resilient housing remains one of the defining challenges of our time.
Throughout the forum discussions highlighted that housing is not only basic human necessity, but also foundation for dignity, resilience, social inclusion, economic opportunity, and sustainable urban growth.
Of 13 also underscored that addressing the global housing crisis requires effective multilaterlism, stronger partnerships, innovative financing, and coordinated actions at all levels.
The forum will be remembered not only for its scale, but also for its innovative formats, inclusive participation and substantive outcomes.
We hope that discussions, opportunities, and proposed solutions be translated into concrete actions and contribute to addressing housing and homelessness challenges affecting 3.5 billion people worldwide.
As highlighted in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, housing is the human right and this right must be ensured for the benefit of all.
Your role in presenting information about VOV 13 is essential.
By highlighting the forum, you ensure that its objectives, achievements, and discussions are widely communicated to the global community, and we hope every participant leaves Bacu not only inspired but equipped with stronger partnerships, clearly priorities, and renewed determination.
Thank you once again and see you soon in Mexico.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Gale, for those important remarks and for giving highlights of W 13.
Now, I would like to invite Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, to give her opening statement.
Madam, the floor is yours.
Thank you very much, Dear Anna Anna Claudia, ambassador to Mexico and Azerbijan media colleagues, let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the government and to the people of Azerbijan, the city of Baku, UN Habitat, and all the partners for hosting what has clearly been a successful and impactful 13 session of the World Urban Forum.
Not to underestimate this huge, I think, success in a world where the geopolitical tensions, the turmoil, the conflict are taking up much of the space in the minds of our leaders.
This forum has once again demonstrated why the World Urban Forum remains the principal global platform on sustainable urbanization and human settlements, convened by UN Habitat, led by an incredible woman, Anna Claudia Ospich, but also bringing governments, civil society, the private sector, indigenous people, climate activists, academia, development banks, our young people, women's groups, communities, and the UN system all around a shared urban future.
This morning, my meetings with the Women's Caucus was impressive, the leadership and the clear call for action in people's lived experiences.
The discussions here in Baku have reinforced a central truth.
Housing is a global agenda for local action.
From rural communities, informal settlements to cities, housing must be seen from a human and a dignified perspective, one that strengthens resilience, restores vibrant centers of culture, social and economic life, and shapes the future with people at its core.
Azerbijan's reconstruction and sustaining peace and development in its territory stands as a model for rebuilding infrastructure, reintegrating communities, and unlocking economic potential.
At a moment when the world is facing intersecting crises from climate shocks and conflicts to inequality and housing insecurity, growing debt pressures which constrain fiscal space and limit the ability to invest in affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and basic services, this forum has highlighted the essential role of multilateral cooperation, multi level governance, and local action.
Wolf 713 has demonstrated the importance of the international community through the United Nations system coming together around addressing the housing crisis and urbanization as a strategic accelerator for the sustainable development goals.
Tackling the housing crisis is not only the responsibility of one agency alone, it cuts across many streams of our work on housing, climate, health, transport, migration, jobs, digitalization, water, energy, disaster risk reduction, gender, and social protection.
This is a system wide coordination in action, and UN habitat is showing how it integrates policy, partners and advocacy across the urban, rural agenda.
The Secretary-General, UN Habitat, rest and coordinators, regional economic commissions, and the wider UN family will continue to strengthen a more coherent UN approach to addressing adequate housing and sustainable urban development, all in trying to deliver on the sustainable agenda and Agenda 2030.
However, the SDGs will not be achieved globally unless they are implemented in our countries and our communities.
That is why the conversations, the commitments that are emerging from this forum are essential to SDG implementation, building the roots of transformation that we need across society and the work that we must do as we leave the forum.
It does mean that we have to continue to deepen the relationships, working with all members of society, including local and regional authorities that will drive these transformations that we need, drawing on lived experiences with housing as an imperative for sustainable development.
Cities must work for everyone, especially our children, women, young people, persons with disabilities, older persons, our migrants, displaced populations, and those living in informal settlements.
As we look ahead, including to our major milestones such as Cop 31 and the second UN Water Conference, in addition to the New Urban Agenda review in July, locally led adaptation must factor in as a critical priority.
Much progress has been made since the adoption of the new urban agenda, but we still have a lot of unfinished business.
The energy partnerships and solutions showcased at this forum give us a lot of reason for hope.
Baku's call to action is clear.
Sustainable urbanization is one of the strongest pathways to restoring trust, SDG acceleration, and renewing multilateralism.
We leave Baku with a renewed determination to work together to build communities and cities inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and centered on human dignity.
It is time to house the world and to give every person a life of dignity.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Secretary-General for these remarks.
Now I will give the floor to the Executive Director of UN Habitat and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, miss Anna Claudia Rosbach.
Thank you, Catharina.
Good morning, Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.
My friend, Anna, Chairman from Spa, my other friend, Mimiga, Maria Victoria Mjadoa of Mexico to Azerbaijan.
Excellency, members of the press, good morning.
So I'd like to start expressing my profound gratitude to the government of the Republic of Azerbijan for hosting the fantastic 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, the exceptional hospitality organization leadership demonstrated throughout this week.
Your commitment, Minister, has made Of 13 a truly global gathering at a critical moment for the urban future.
I also extend my sincere appreciation to all participants, governments, cities, partners, experts, civil society, youth, communities, for your energy, your engagement, and shared determination over the past days.
This session has once again shown that the Word Ma Forum is truly a global platform for collective action for the future of cities.
We have seen exceptional engagement and attendance across the program.
Over 57,000 participants, including over 3,000 connected online from over 176 countries, 1,000 visits to the expo.
55% of these participants are women and girls.
We welcomed 11 heads of states, nine high level guests, 88 ministers and 76 deputy ministers, 130 mayors, and we held a total of 579 sessions.
We welcomed 260 exhibitors, innovators, and solution providers at the Urban Expo that registered over 74,000 visits and 865 media representatives covered the forum throughout the week.
These figures reflect the urgency.
Cities are demanding solutions and partners are responding.
The team of 413 housing the world, safe and resilient cities and communities could not be timelier.
We met at a moment when the global housing crisis has reached unprecedented scale, affecting billions of people through affordability pressures, displacement, informality, climate vulnerability, and declining conditions of life.
Housing is no longer a sector issue.
It is a systemic challenge that shapes inequality, opportunity, resilience, and stability and peace in our cities and societies.
The discussions here in Baku have reinforced the clear message housing must be placed at the center of integrated urban policy, linking land, infrastructure, climate action, finance, and governance.
I really welcome the strong convergence of the ideas that have emerged throughout the forum and commend the development of the Baku Culture action, which reflects the collective voice of Wolf 13.
The key priorities that emerge from this week include addressing the scale of the housing crisis, recognizing that billions still lack adequate housing and that urgent systemic responses are need to go beyond incremental approaches, rebalancing housing systems and finance, strengthening implementation and scaling solutions, bringing proven practices from informal settlement upgrading to climate resilient housing and community led approaches into mainstream policy and investment.
Empowering local action and partnerships, reinforcing the central role of cities, communities, and local governments supported by national and international partners in delivering solutions at scale, advancing climate resilient and inclusive urban transformation, ensuring housing systems support both climate change mitigation, and adaptation while protecting the most vulnerable and preventing exclusion.
The Baku Culture action will serve as a key reference point for advancing these priorities across global processes and platforms.
We'll bring these outcomes into EN HabTTs intergovernmental work, including ongoing discussions on adequate housing, urban resilience, and sustainable development frameworks.
They will also inform our engagement with global climate and development processes, ensuring that housing in cities remain central to the implementation of the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda.
Looking ahead, we'll continue building momentum towards W 14, strengthening the link between ideas, partnerships, and implementations.
What we have seen here in Baku is clear, solutions exist, knowledge exists and commitment exists.
The challenge now is not to define the agenda, but to deliver it and to place housing at the core of human diginity and sustainable development.
Wolf 13 has strengthened a global coalition for urban transformation.
Its success lies not only in what we discussed here, but in what will be done next in cities and communities, any national and global policy.
We leave Bacu with renewed determination, stronger partnerships, and a shared responsibility to turn commitments into action.
We will carry this momentum forward to the next session of the World Urban Forum that will take place in Mexico City in 2028.
We hope to see progress towards adequate housing for all.
Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Executive Director for these remarks.
We are also privileged to have here with us a representative of the incoming host of W 14, Mexico City.
Now, I would like to give the floor and invite to deliver her remarks, representative of W 14, ambassador of Mexico in Azerbijan.
Miss Maria Victoria Maria Caballera.
Madam, the floor is yours.
Thank you, Karina.
Excellency, Minister Oli, misses Mohamed, and misses Rosbach.
Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to talk to you.
And on behalf of the government of Mexico and Mexico City, I would like to congratulate Azerbijan for the wonderful organization of the 13th World Urban Forum.
Our deepest gratitude for your support, generosity, and making our staying in Azerbijan a successful experience.
Once again, we could witness the hospitality of the Azerbijani people, young women and men guiding us our steps to work, to exchange view, and in the case of Mexico, taking notes and you know the motive, special thanks to the young volunteers.
Thank you very much.
We also thank you and Habitat for guiding us and making sure that we have a meaningful participation.
The importance of the 13 forum was reflected in the level of the Mexican delegation.
You could see we had the Minister for urban planning, we had the governor of Mexico City, we have a Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and we have a lot of colleagues coming from both levels of government.
After this afternoon, Mexico will be starting the way to W 14.
My colleagues are going back immediately to take this task in the suitcases.
But with a firm commitment to making the forum as successful as this forum concluding today.
My colleagues from Mexico City government, along with UN Habitat, will start the coordination towards establishing team works, governance models, strategic points, and all the heavy work modeling W 14.
They will be working together with relevant stakeholders.
A with deep emotion, W 14 will go back to Latin America after 14 years.
Wolf was held in Medagin Colombia.
But also, we have to take into account that 14 will have the big task as the last one before 2030.
Dear friend Amigos, we will see you in Mexico.
I would like to close this message to you by saying a popular saying that we have in Mexico, mi casa es to.
My home is your home.
Thank you very much, Madam Ambassador.
I would also like to thank all of our speakers this afternoon.
Now we can have a really short question and answer section.
I think that we are running a little bit of time, but I think we can take one question for the speakers.
If you would like to ask a question, please raise your hand and introduce yourself.
We have the mics on the left and on the right.
My name is Isabel Beul.
I'm from EchoIQ Turkey.
First of all, I'd like to say seeing three women in such high powered positions is such an encouraging message to the women and young girls of the world.
So kudos.
My question is to Madame Rospach.
How do you see the discussions, the learnings, the challenges from Wolf 13 feeding into the post 2030 process.
Thank you.
We can take one more question and then we will answer.
There is a question at the back there, the gentleman.
Hello, I'm from Hazara Television.
I have a question about the Carbo region and Cab is being rebuilt and about the land mine through its remains.
How can United habitat help raise international attention to this situation? Thank you.
Can you please also say who this question is addressed to particularly? My question is to Madame Mohammed.
Thank you very much.
Maybe we start with the first.
Sure.
As we have been saying, we are at the moment of midterm review of the new urban agenda.
New urban agenda was endorsed by member states in to Ecuador in 2016 and it goes until 2036.
It goes beyond 2030.
So now the focus is on seeing for us here, for this urban community what's possible to be done from now to 2030.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I'll just add to that 2030 agenda.
We have five years and there are clearly an integrated approach to housing.
It doesn't stand alone, it stands within infrastructure, inclusive economies.
Its ensuring that we have systems that will operate for where dwellings are, your health systems, your education systems.
It's central to the sustainable development agenda and the fact that we're examining the goal at the high level political forum in a few weeks will put a lot more emphasis.
But just to see how how many more people have been engaged, coming to Baku for the urban agenda.
I think it really does show you that this is about the actions and the investments that we need to push for at the country level to ensure that housing is included and very much an opportunity to accelerate on the SDGs.
The second question about Kaval, of course, this is government and its program for that reintegration, sustaining peace.
But for us at the UN, we are currently involved in supporting the country with the demining.
It's an important exercise.
It will take a very long time.
But it's also part of that trust building and making a safer community for people as infrastructure is put back.
Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to ask you to give a round of applause to our speakers.
I would like to thank our speakers and maybe also invite them to stand just for a closing photo from this press conference.
Just one photo and then thank you very much.