Baku: WUF13 has marked a significant milestone as the largest forum ever organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), said Executive Director Anacl¡udia Rossbach during her speech at the official opening press conference of the event, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rossbach emphasized that the event is taking place at a crucial time for cities and communities, with global urbanization challenges necessitating swift, coordinated, and inclusive action. "WUF13 is the largest forum ever held by UN-Habitat. Thousands of participants are represented here, including heads of state, ministers, mayors, UN officials, representatives of business, academia, and civil society from 182 countries," she stated.

The head of UN-Habitat highlighted Baku's role as a key platform for global dialogue on sustainable urban development. She expressed gratitude to the Government of Azerbaijan for hosting the forum and contributing to enhanced cooperation in sustainable urban development.

Rossbach pointed out the pressing issue of housing insecurity affecting around 3 billion people worldwide. Over 1 billion individuals live in informal settlements and slums, while more than 300 million people face homelessness. She described the situation as not only a housing crisis but also a crisis of inclusivity, opportunity, and resilience.

Emphasizing the importance of housing, she stated that it is a human right and essential for building sustainable cities. "Housing must stand at the center of integrated urban solutions. This approach should be linked with land governance, basic services, climate action, mobility, and economic opportunities," Rossbach stressed.