BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. The independent
living of people with disabilities is directly linked to the
physical and informational accessibility of the urban environment,
Director of the Azerbaijan Center for Inclusive Development and
Creativity under the Agency for Sustainable and Operative Social
Provision Elnara Ansari, said at the event "Inclusive Cities and
Independent Living for People with Disabilities," held as part of
the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Trend reports.


She noted that the initiative, implemented by the "Independent
living center for people with disabilities" public association with
the support of the Agency for State Support to NGOs and the
Ombudsman's Office of Azerbaijan, deserves high praise.


According to Ansari, independent living for people with
disabilities begins with the ability to leave the house
independently, cross the street safely, use public transportation,
and visit a public building or store.


"Lack of accessibility is one of the main factors in the social
exclusion of people with disabilities," she said.


She emphasized that the lack of ramps, accessible restrooms, and
other necessary infrastructure limits the participation of people
with disabilities in public life and deprives society of their
potential and opportunities.


According to her, inclusive urban planning is not a luxury or an
afterthought, but a fundamental necessity that must be considered
from the very beginning of any development project.


"It's much easier and more cost-effective to design an
accessible building from the start than to adapt it later," Ansari
said.


She also noted that accessibility benefits not only people with
disabilities, but also parents with strollers, the elderly,
tourists with luggage, and people with temporary injuries.


According to the center's director, the exhibition
"Accessibility Myths: Invisible Barriers of Modern Urban
Development" presented at the event highlights barriers that often
remain invisible to most people.







"Sometimes even a small threshold of ten centimeters can become
an insurmountable obstacle for someone using a wheelchair. An
incorrectly installed sign or the absence of tactile paving can
make a space completely inaccessible to someone with visual
impairments," she said.


Ansari expressed hope that the event will inspire action in
creating an inclusive urban environment.


"We need to make our cities truly inclusive and accessible," she
emphasized.


The third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum
(WUF13) is underway in Baku.


On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New
Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and
civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the
United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework
of the forum.


The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever
Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing
crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that
day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated
within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an
important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.


WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.