BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The thirteenth
session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), jointly organised by the
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the
Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, will open on 17 May in
Baku, Trend reports via WUF13 Azerbaijan Operating Company.
Proceedings will formally commence with the WUF13 Flag Raising
Ceremony, during which the flags of the United Nations and the
Republic of Azerbaijan will be ceremonially hoisted.
On the opening day of WUF13, Azerbaijan will chair a Ministerial
Meeting on the New Urban Agenda, launched as a new initiative
within the Forum programme. Taking place at the midpoint of the New
Urban Agenda’s 20-year horizon, the meeting will provide an
important platform to review progress achieved to date, identify
existing challenges and outline priorities for the next phase of
implementation.
A series of assembly sessions will also take place within the
framework of the Forum. Proceedings will begin with the Joint
Opening of the Assemblies, followed by the Women’s Assembly, the
World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments, the Grassroots
and Civil Society Organizations Assembly, the Children and Youth
Assembly, and the Business Assembly, in accordance with the
official programme.
Among the additional events to be held as part of the Forum is
the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) Assembly,
jointly organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme
(UN-Habitat), the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance
(GWOPA) and the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency.
Held every two years, the GWOPA Assembly will, for the first
time, take place within the framework of the World Urban Forum.
WUF13, which will take place in Baku from 17 to 22 May, will be
convened under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient
cities and communities”.
Further details on the sessions and events scheduled for 17 May
can be found via the official WUF13 programme
page.