The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), jointly organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, kicks off today.
The event will begin with a ceremony raising the flags of the United Nations and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
On the first day of WUF13, a ministerial-level meeting on the New Urban Agenda will be held as a new initiative under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship. This meeting, coinciding with the mid-term of the 20-year implementation period of the Agenda, will provide a significant opportunity to review achieved results, identify existing challenges, and set directions for the next phase.
Various assembly sessions will also be organized within the framework of the Forum. Initially, a joint opening session of the assemblies will take place. According to the program, the Women’s Assembly, the Global Assembly of Local and Regional Governments, the Assembly of Community Coalitions and Civil Society Organizations, the Children and Youth Assembly, as well as the Business Assembly will be held subsequently. Among the additional events of the Forum is the “Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance” Assembly, jointly organized by UN-Habitat, the Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance (GWOPA), and the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency. The GWOPA Assembly, held every two years, will be organized within the World Urban Forum for the first time.
It should be noted that the WUF13 event is dedicated to the theme “Housing for All: Safe, Resilient, and Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements,” and is taking place in the city of Baku from May 17 to 22.