Baku: Civil society must be at the center of global decision-making, Fuad Karimli, Secretary General of the Global South NGO Platform, asserted during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 'WUF13 NGO Forum,' a historic event hosted for the first time by Azerbaijan.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Karimli emphasized the significance of the assembly in Baku, which has resulted in the formation of a broad platform uniting over 1,000 NGOs. He described this development as a pivotal step in the institutional strengthening of global civil society. Karimli highlighted that organizations from the Global South are now recognizing Baku as a new strategic center for fostering international cooperation and solidarity.

He further stated that civil society's role in addressing urban planning and global urbanization challenges should be amplified. Karimli pointed out that for too long, civil society has been excluded from global urban planning discussions. However, he stressed that issues such as climate resilience and fair housing demonstrate that effective solutions require active participation from the people.

During his speech, it was also noted that incorporating local and regional experiences into global policy is crucial, and civil society must become an essential component of the decision-making process.