569 NGOs from 103 countries sign Baku Declaration on WUF13
Baku, May 23, AZERTAC
Initiated and organized by the "Global South NGO Platform," the "Baku Declaration" regarding WUF13 has been drafted. The document was open for signatures from foreign NGO representatives participating in WUF13. Ultimately, 569 NGO representatives from 103 countries signed the "Baku Declaration."
AZERTAC presents the declaration:
“ We, representatives of civil society organizations gathered in Baku within the framework of WUF13, declare the following:
- We congratulate Azerbaijan on the successful organization of WUF13 and its meaningful contribution to international urban dialogue and cooperation. The Leaders’ Summit, held for the first time in the history of the Forum, demonstrated a new level of political commitment by placing urban development among the priorities of the international agenda;
- Having witnessed the consequences of urbicide, culturicide and ecocide in different parts of the world, we recognize Azerbaijan’s experience in post-conflict recovery and reconstruction as an important methodological reference for the international community. We propose that the “Azerbaijan Experience” serve as an international benchmark for future post-conflict rehabilitation processes and as a key reference framework for forthcoming Forums;
- The first-ever NGO Forum in the history of the World Urban Forum, held in Baku, opens a new chapter for civil society participation within the WUF process;
- The convening of the first General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform - a broad coalition uniting more than 1,000 NGOs - and the election of its leadership represent a historic milestone in the institutional consolidation of global civil society. This Declaration, adopted through the GSNP network, stands as an act of global solidarity in support of accessible housing, inclusive urban development. We call upon UN-Habitat to continue supporting this initiative, to recognize the GSNP as an official civil society partner of the World Urban Forum, and to consider this model as a permanent component of future Forums. We propose the establishment of a Global South Urban Knowledge Hub to systematize and share successful urban development practices;
- From Baku, we call on all international partners to support people-centred urban policies and to advance more coordinated global action in the interest of urban resilience, sustainable development, and inclusive societies;
- We promote future World Urban Forum sessions being organized in line with the “Baku Standard,” reflected in the signing of a Letter of Intent on the development of joint operational guidelines based on the WUF13 experience in Baku.
22 May 2026, Baku, Azerbaijan”.
The "Baku Declaration" was adopted three days after the "WUF13 NGO Forum," which was held on May 19 this year for the first time in WUF history, through a partnership with the "Global South NGO Platform" (GSNP) and organized by Azerbaijan's NGO Agency. During the discussions at the "WUF13 NGO Forum," which brought together nearly 800 foreign and local NGO representatives, it was proposed that the local and foreign NGOs represented at WUF13 form the Urban Wing of the GSNP.
At the opening ceremony of the "WUF13 NGO Forum," Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), declared that this Forum is a historical event for WUF. Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, called the "Global South NGO Platform" a fantastic project and congratulated Azerbaijan on establishing this platform in Baku.
Christian Mensah, former Secretary of the Governing Body at UN-Habitat, congratulated the GSNP on creating a civil society hub for local and foreign NGOs at WUF13. He stated that in the current complex international environment, the "Bandung Principles" are gaining renewed relevance, and this event is a real manifestation of applying those principles within the framework of cooperation and multilateral partnership.
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