BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. Communication and
storytelling in the region help people better understand urban
transformation, Chairman of the "Azerbaijan Journalists Network"
Public Union Ayaz Mirzayev said at an event "Media as a Driver of
Public Discourse on Housing and Urban Resilience" within WUF13,
Trend reports.


He called for explaining why green spaces and sustainable urban
planning matters are important, why social inclusion should be part
of urban development, and why communities should be involved in the
decision-making process.


Mirzayev noted that today, social media has made the
communication process even faster and more powerful. A short video,
a documentary, or even a striking photo can spark a wide-ranging
international discussion.


According to him, the media has a responsibility. The
information must be accurate, balanced, and ethical, because public
trust is very important.


"In our region, we clearly see that communication and
storytelling help people better understand reconstruction, urban
transformation, and community development.


For example, documentaries and visual storytelling show not only
the physical reconstruction, but also the human side — the return
of families, the restoration of communities, and the rebirth of
hope."


In his opinion, collaboration between media professionals, urban
planners, government agencies, NGOs, and local communities is very
important because strong communication creates stronger public
awareness.


"Strong public awareness, in turn, helps to shape stronger
cities.







Cities are built of concrete and steel, but sustainable
societies are built on trust, dialogue, and shared understanding,
and the media plays a key role in shaping this understanding," he
concluded.


Today marks the fourth day of WUF13 in Baku.


The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the
New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women
and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and
Azerbaijani flags also took place.


The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit,
featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis,
urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the
opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a
significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.


The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of
events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe
and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence
and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and
sustainable transport.


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.