UN-Habitat Forum in Baku Highlights Future of Safe, Inclusive Cities
Jerusalem, 17 May, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Baku (AZERTAC) – From May 17 to 22, Baku will host the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), one of the United Nations’ most prestigious global platforms for urbanization.
Dedicated to the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” this major international event is organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and serves as a vital platform for discussing issues of global significance, including urban planning, sustainable development, and inclusive living environments.
UN-Habitat serves as the focal point within the UN system for urban planning and human settlements. The organization was established following a UN General Assembly resolution on December 19, 1977. Later, on December 21, 2001, the General Assembly expanded its institutional status, transforming it into a full Programme.
The primary objectives of UN-Habitat include: promoting socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and cities globally, fostering the creation of inclusive, safe, and resilient urban communities to reduce poverty, discrimination, and inequality, shaping the international agenda regarding urbanization and human habitat through initiatives like the World Urban Forum and World Habitat Day.
Established by the UN in 2001, the World Urban Forum examines the impacts of rapid urbanization on cities, promotes sustainable urban policies, and facilitates the exchange of successful state practices through open debates and knowledge sharing.
In terms of scale, content, and participation, WUF is widely considered the UN’s second most important international event, superseded only by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The platform addresses pressing global urbanization challenges, focusing heavily on: the future of cities and smart city technologies, climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability, social inclusivity and affordable housing solutions.
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat has entered a new stage of development, particularly following the restoration and reconstruction work carried out in areas regained by Azerbaijan in 2020 following the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
The first high-level UN representative to visit Azerbaijan’s liberated territories was none other than the Executive Director of UN-Habitat at the time, Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif. This visit drew international attention to the large-scale reconstruction and urban planning activities undertaken by Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period.
In recent years, Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat have jointly implemented a number of important initiatives. Notably, the 1st National Urban Forum was organized in Baku and Aghdam in 2022. In 2023, the 2nd National Urban Forum and World Habitat Day were held in Baku and Zangilan. In 2025, the 3rd National Urban Forum was organized in Khankendi and Baku. These events have become crucial platforms for the international presentation of the experience accumulated by Azerbaijan in the field of urban planning, its innovative approaches, and its sustainable development model.
