BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17. We must implement the
necessary changes regarding how the concepts of housing rights and
affordable housing are perceived within individuals and society,
Rania Hedeya, a representative of the United Nations Human
Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), said during the opening session
on Grassroots and Civil Society Organizations Assembly held within
the framework of WUF13, Trend reports.
She emphasized that forced evictions can be prevented, and urban
development cannot be achieved at the expense of human dignity,
security of tenure, and human rights.
"We must emphasize the importance of stronger public investments
in affordable and social housing, ensuring equal access to land and
services, developing regulatory frameworks that protect people from
eviction and exclusion, as well as establishing inclusive economic
and urban policies that address inequality and vulnerability,"
Hedeya said.
"All these narratives and discussions are closely linked to the
core essence of UN-Habitat's new strategic plan for 2026–2029.
Those familiar with the strategic plan know that five key areas lie
at its center. The first of these is adequate housing, land, and
urban services. The second is participatory governance, the third
is integrated urban transformation, the fourth is partnerships and
coalitions, and the fifth is inclusive stakeholder engagement," she
noted.
Rania Hedeya added that all this further highlights the vital
importance of adopting rights-based, community-oriented, and
inclusive approaches as core principles in housing and urban
development.
