Baku: Jordanian news portals such as Jordan Daily, Nayrouz, Al Balad News, and Cleopatranews widely covered the successful conclusion of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku and the 'Baku Call to Action' document adopted as an outcome of the WUF13.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, an article by the Jordan Daily mentioned that the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum officially concluded in Baku on May 22 after six days of discussions on sustainable urban development, climate resilience, housing policy, and inclusive urbanization. The forum, held under the theme 'Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,' became the largest session in the World Urban Forum's 24-year history.
The final day of WUF13 featured high-level dialogues, thematic roundtables, special sessions, and the official closing ceremony at the Baku Olympic Stadium. A key outcome of the forum was the adoption of the 'Baku Call to Action,' a document reflecting the shared vision of governments, international organizations, cities, experts, and civil society on addressing the global housing crisis and advancing the New Urban Agenda.
Official figures indicate that more than 58,000 participants from 176 countries attended WUF13, including around 3,000 online participants. The forum brought together 27 heads of state and government, more than 150 ministers and deputy ministers, over 130 mayors, senior UN officials, academics, and representatives of civil society and the private sector. Women and girls accounted for more than 55 percent of all participants, marking a significant achievement in gender representation.
During the closing ceremony, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan and WUF13 National Coordinator Anar Guliyev stated that Baku had become an international hub for discussions on the future of cities. He noted that WUF13 would be remembered not only as the largest forum ever held but also as a platform that returned housing issues to the center of the global political agenda.
Executive Director of UN-Habitat Anacl¡udia Rossbach emphasized that the forum united a record number of participants and demonstrated growing international consensus on the urgency of solving the global housing crisis. Approximately 580 sessions were organized during the forum, focusing on sustainable urban development and climate resilience.
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed thanked Azerbaijan for the successful organization of the event and highlighted the close cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations. She described Azerbaijan's reconstruction and development efforts in post-conflict territories as an example of infrastructure restoration and sustainable development.
Among the notable innovations introduced during WUF13 were the launch of the Baku Urban Award, the Business and Innovation Hub, the WUF Academy campus, and the Practices Hub. The newly established Baku Urban Award is expected to become a permanent international mechanism within the framework of the World Urban Forum, recognizing innovative urban solutions and sustainable housing initiatives worldwide.
The forum also highlighted Azerbaijan's post-conflict reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories, where large-scale projects based on 'smart city' and 'smart village' concepts are being implemented. Special sessions addressed humanitarian mine action and sustainable resettlement.
The closing ceremony featured Azerbaijani national music, Mugham performances, and traditional dances. Azerbaijan officially handed over the presidency of the World Urban Forum to Mexico, which will host the next session in Mexico City in 2028.
WUF13 concluded with broad international participation and strong calls for enhanced global cooperation in sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and accessible housing policies.