Baku: An information session was held for media representatives to ensure effective communication on the thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) to be held in Baku in May 2026. The session, conducted on 30 January, provided media representatives with in-depth information on WUF13, along with opportunities for discussion and networking with officials from various Azerbaijani organizations and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Jamala Aliyeva, a representative of the Department for Work with NGOs and Communication of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Coordinator of the WUF13 Communications Group, delivered the opening remarks. She highlighted Azerbaijan's strong track record in hosting major international events and emphasized the critical role played by the media in their successful delivery. She also outlined the core priorities of the WUF13 Communications Group.
Speaking to media representatives, Katerina Bezgachina, Chief of Communications at UN-Habitat, who is currently visiting Azerbaijan, provided an overview of the history, objectives, and significance of the World Urban Forum. She emphasized that the theme of WUF13, 'Housing the World: Safe and resilient cities and communities', captures the key challenges facing cities today. The event will mark the tenth anniversary of the New Urban Agenda and offer a significant opportunity to prioritize housing in global agendas for the coming decade.
Jamila Ismayilzada, Substantive Content Manager at the WUF13 Azerbaijan Operations Company, spoke about the importance of hosting the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan to advance sustainable urban development, and she outlined the planned activities in this regard.
Eldar Rasulov, Media Relations Manager at the WUF13 Azerbaijan Operations Company, noted that a dedicated media centre will operate to ensure comprehensive coverage of the 40 main sessions and approximately 350 partner-led events held during WUF13. He encouraged media representatives to complete the accreditation process and detailed the facilities and opportunities available to the media during the event.
Media registration for WUF13, scheduled to take place from 17 to 22 May 2026, is currently underway. All media representatives wishing to cover the event are required to apply for accreditation via the official registration system of UN-Habitat at https://events.unhabitat.org/