New york: A series of high-level international events dedicated to the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) under the theme 'Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities' were held at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, a meeting of the Group of Friends (GoF) of UN-Habitat, Sustainable Urbanization and the New Urban Agenda was held on 29 January, co-chaired by the Permanent Missions of Poland and Zimbabwe to the United Nations. The meeting was organized in the lead-up to the mid-term review of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and brought together representatives from a broad range of UN Member States.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks from the co-chairs of the Group of Friends, followed by a presentation from Anacl¡udia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, on the framework and commitments for implementing the New Urban Agenda. The Permanent Representatives of Malawi and Poland to the United Nations, acting as co-facilitators of the political declaration of the New Urban Agenda review, shared insights on urbanization challenges and the preparation of the midterm review report.
The UN-Habitat Group of Friends, comprising 50 member states from all global regions, aims to foster dialogue and cooperation to promote inclusive, safe, sustainable, and resilient urban development.
Within this context, the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan presented on the upcoming Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), discussing the Forum's theme, key events, and preparation process.
On 30 January 2026, a diplomatic briefing for WUF13 was co-organized by the Government of Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat, attended by heads of over 100 permanent missions, observers, and diplomatic corps members.
Elvin Ashrafzada, Charg© d'Affaires a.i. and Deputy Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, delivered opening remarks, emphasizing Azerbaijan's contributions to the global dialogue on sustainable urban development and the significance of WUF13 in addressing current challenges.
Anacl¡udia Rossbach, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, highlighted WUF13 as a crucial platform for dialogue, partnerships, and practical solutions to the global housing crisis. She underscored the event's role in supporting the New Urban Agenda and developing inclusive, safe, sustainable, and resilient cities.
Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy National Coordinator of WUF13, discussed Azerbaijan's new initiatives for WUF13, including a first-ever Summit involving heads of state and government, an interactive Ministerial meeting, and the Urban Expo exhibition. She noted Azerbaijan's commitment to the global development agenda by sharing national experiences and innovative solutions.
Omar Siddique, Head of UN-Habitat's Canada Office, presented the WUF13 programme, key events, and participation opportunities. The briefing concluded with a Q and A session where diplomats from various countries expressed confidence in Azerbaijan's ability to host WUF13 successfully.