BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. Urban development and
urbanization are impossible without the active participation and
partnership of civil society, Aygun Aliyeva, Executive Director of
the Agency for State Support to NGOs of Azerbaijan, said during the
NGO Forum on "Global Partnership and Decision-Making" held within
the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13)
in Baku, Trend
reports.
"Today's meeting holds special historical significance. For the
first time in the history of the World Urban Forum, the NGO Forum
has been organized as part of the official WUF program. This is not
merely a symbolic event. It is a confirmation of an important
reality already recognized at the international level: sustainable
urban development and urbanization are impossible without the
participation and partnership of civil society. We are proud that
this historic first experience is taking place right here in
Azerbaijan," she said.
Aliyeva noted that in recent years, Azerbaijan has become a
platform for vital international initiatives and solidarity
mechanisms within the civil society sphere.
"In 2025, Baku hosted the inaugural conference of the Global
South NGO Platform. In the same year, the NGO Platform of the
Member States of the Organization of Turkic States was established
in Nakhchivan. Just a few days ago, the General Assembly of the
Global South NGO Platform was held within the framework of Baku
Urban Week. All these events demonstrate that Azerbaijan not only
hosts international events but also becomes an important
international venue bringing together civil society representatives
from different regions for dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity,"
she added.
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.
