Washington, October 10, 2026 – The Europe Today: Azerbaijan has called for urgent and coordinated international action to address the global housing crisis and accelerate implementation of the New Urban Agenda through 2036, highlighting the importance of affordable, sustainable and resilient housing in inclusive urban development.
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Elvin Ashrafzade, made the remarks during a joint general discussion on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, strengthening the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and issues concerning groups of countries in special situations.
Ashrafzade said the Baku Call to Action of the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) had been developed through an extensive and inclusive global consultation process involving multiple stakeholders over several months. He said the initiative called for a concerted response to the housing crisis and faster implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
He highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in co-organising WUF13 with UN-Habitat earlier this year under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.”
According to the diplomat, the forum brought together participants from 176 countries and placed the global housing crisis at the centre of international urban policy discussions. The event also featured the first Ministerial Meeting and the inaugural Leaders’ Summit.
Ashrafzade emphasised that adequate housing remained a central component of Azerbaijan’s engagement in international urban development initiatives.
As co-chair of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All, Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to ensuring access to adequate, affordable and sustainable housing, which he described as essential to inclusive urban development and progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities.
The Azerbaijani diplomat also underscored the importance of urban development in his country’s national agenda, noting that President Ilham Aliyev had declared 2026 the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture.
He said the initiative reflected Azerbaijan’s commitment to modern, sustainable and people-centred urban development.
Ashrafzade further highlighted Azerbaijan’s efforts to advance integrated urban planning and build sustainable, resilient communities, including within the framework of the Great Return to territories liberated from occupation.
He noted that Azerbaijan’s experience demonstrated the importance of linking effective urban planning with infrastructure development, housing provision, resilience and the needs of local communities.
The diplomat stressed that sharing national experiences through international platforms such as the World Urban Forum could help translate global commitments into practical solutions.
Ashrafzade also welcomed the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Political Declaration to Renew Commitment and Accelerate the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
He said the declaration provided fresh political momentum for international efforts to advance sustainable urban development, while underscoring the need to translate commitments into concrete action at both national and local levels.
The statement reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for stronger international cooperation on housing, sustainable urbanisation and resilient communities, with a focus on addressing the global housing crisis and advancing the objectives of the New Urban Agenda.
