BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. Young people and
local communities must be given real control and resources, Deputy
Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Indira Hajiyeva said,
Trend reports.


She made the remark during an event titled “Youth and Civil
Society Leadership in Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Cities”
as part of WUF13.


“Stop inviting young people to forums just to tick a box in
reports. Give them tools. Young people and local communities must
be given real control and resources. We need to fund your startups
in the regions, develop local social initiatives, and entrust the
next generation with the development of local regulations. So, give
them the opportunity to act,” she said.


According to the deputy minister, thanks to initiatives such as
the national Youth Capitals program, cities like Shusha and
Lankaran have expanded youth participation, cultural engagement,
and social inclusion.


"In Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, we are not merely rebuilding
territories. Reconstruction is not just about restoring roads and
buildings. It is about restoring trust, opportunities, and everyday
life. Today, Azerbaijan is building nine new ‘smart’ cities and
hundreds of settlements in post-conflict territories, based on the
conviction that every community deserves not only to be rebuilt,
but also to have the opportunity to thrive. “We are reimagining how
communities can live, work, learn, and grow with the help of green
energy, digital innovation, and people-centered urban planning,”
she said.


Today marks the fifth 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.


One of the highlights of the third day was the signing of a
sister-city memorandum between the Azerbaijani city of Shusha and
the Turkish city of Trabzon.


The fourth day of WUF13 featured a broad program of events
dedicated to urbanization, climate change, inclusive urban
development, housing policy, and sustainable governance.


One of the important events of the UN Special Program for the
Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Cities Forum, held on the fourth
day, was the announcement of Almaty’s official accession to the
“Declaration of Intent on the Establishment of the SPECA Smart
Climate-Resilient Cities Forum.”


Also, for the first time in WUF history and at Azerbaijan’s
initiative, the “WUF13 NGO Forum: Global Partnership and
Decision-Making” was held.


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.