Baku: Inspired by the action-oriented nature of the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Baku Call to Action emerges as a collectively co-produced, equitable, and inclusive document. This pivotal document is the result of diverse contributions from stakeholders across various sectors and spheres of governance, including civil society organizations, professionals, Indigenous Peoples, and others working in the housing domain.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, this document is the culmination of months of comprehensive stakeholder consultations leading up to the World Urban Forum. The forum saw participation from over 58,000 individuals from 176 countries, marking it as the largest WUF to date. The event also included a historic Leaders' Statement Summit with 27 Heads of State and Government. The innovations introduced at WUF13, such as the Baku Urban Award and the WUF Academy campus, were highlighted as key achievements.

The Baku Call to Action addresses the global housing crisis, emphasizing that the crisis is a result of systemic failures linked to dispossession, colonization, and inequality. It estimates 3.4 billion people globally are impacted by inadequate housing. The document calls for housing to be recognized as a human right, integrated into a broader vision for social protection and economic growth.

The document highlights various challenges such as urban inequality, poor land management, shrinking public funding for housing, and the impacts of conflict and climate change. It calls for a multi-stakeholder approach to address these issues, urging local and national governments to prioritize housing policies, improve implementation capacity, and ensure sustained public investment.

The Baku Call to Action is a plea for assertive and concerted responses to the housing crisis, advocating for the implementation of integrated housing policies, long-term financing, and the strengthening of multilevel governance. It also calls for the recognition of housing as a right and the importance of addressing forced evictions, promoting affordable housing, and ensuring housing without discrimination.

In conclusion, the Baku Call to Action represents a significant step in confronting the global housing crisis and calls for collective effort to address the challenges, leaving no one behind. The document, while not a negotiated intergovernmental outcome, serves as a stakeholder-driven call to action from WUF13.