A call has been made to parliaments worldwide in connection with the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), urging stronger legislative engagement in advancing resilient cities and sustainable urban development.
The call was issued on 30 January during an international event titled ‘Role of parliaments in advancing resilient cities and promoting sustainable urban development’, held with the participation of 32 parliamentarians from 30 countries.
The meeting focused on Azerbaijan’s urban development experience and preparations for WUF13, and aimed to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy around the forum.
The event was initiated and organised by Azerbaijani MP Parvana Valiyeva in her capacity as a member of the Global Parliamentary Academy, in cooperation with the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture – WUF13 Azerbaijan. Representatives of UN-Habitat and two other UN agencies also attended.
Opening the session, Valiyeva thanked international colleagues for supporting the initiative and engaging in discussions dedicated to WUF13. She underlined the importance of parliaments in shaping legal frameworks that support sustainable, inclusive and people-centred urban development.
As a special guest, Dominica’s Minister of Environment, Rural Modernisation and Kalinago Upliftment, Cozier Frederick, shared the urbanisation experiences of small island states and outlined the challenges they face, stressing the role of legislation in building safe and sustainable cities.
Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy National Coordinator of WUF13, presented Azerbaijan’s urban development achievements and outlined the country’s preparations for hosting the forum.
Anna Soave, Head of the UN-Habitat Country Programme, highlighted the importance of modern urban planning legislation and the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy within world urban forums.
During discussions, participants praised Azerbaijan’s urban development record and its upcoming hosting of WUF13. Lawmakers then unanimously adopted a joint call to action addressed to the WUF13 National Coordinator.
In the call, parliamentarians said cities are at the centre of today’s most pressing global challenges - including rapid urbanisation, climate risks, inequality, displacement and a deepening global housing crisis and also at the heart of their solutions.
They reaffirmed housing as a fundamental human right and urged the development of affordable, adequate and resilient housing, particularly for low-income groups, women, youth, migrants and displaced people.
The call also stresses the need for legislative frameworks that support social housing, inclusive zoning and responsible urban land governance.
Lawmakers committed to integrating sustainable urban development into national strategies, climate policies and budgetary frameworks, while strengthening legislative support for climate-resilient, inclusive and people-centred cities in line with the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The statement underlines the value of global platforms such as the World Urban Forum for sharing best practices and building cross-regional partnerships, and expresses strong support for the Republic of Azerbaijan as host of WUF13.
Parliamentarians also welcomed Azerbaijan’s efforts to advance global dialogue on sustainable urbanisation and to position cities as drivers of resilience, peace and inclusive development.
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