Housing for Social Inclusion and Ending Poverty – Panel
Baku, May 17, AZERTAC
As part of the 13th Session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13), a panel discussion was held on the theme “Housing for Social Inclusion and Ending Poverty.”
At the panel, Adib Benbrahim, Secretary of State for Housing of Morocco, said that housing provision, as one of the key requirements of social policy, is among the factors that significantly influence social stability. He noted that inadequate housing and poor living conditions reduce quality of life and weaken social well-being.
“When people’s social security is not stable, they are unable to live in normal and safe conditions. This affects not only individual living standards but also the overall social structure of society. Unstable social conditions weaken health, education opportunities, and work capacity, and as a result, also have a serious impact on the national economy,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Say Samal stated that Cambodia has faced long-term poverty and socio-economic challenges, but has gradually moved toward middle-income status thanks to development programs and social policies implemented in recent years.
He noted that one of the key drivers of this progress has been the improvement of living conditions and increased attention to housing provision. He emphasized that creating a safe and inclusive living environment plays an important role in strengthening social stability, and that sustainable housing projects are being implemented for all segments of the population.
Mexico City’s Housing Secretary Inti Muñoz Santini expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan and the United Nations for organizing WUF13, noting that in large and densely populated cities such as Mexico City, issues of social inequality and poverty are particularly pronounced. He stressed that more comprehensive approaches are being implemented to address these challenges.
Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Türkiye Ömer Bulut said that rural-to-urban migration in Türkiye had previously led to an increase in informal settlements. However, he noted that recent urban planning and social housing policies have significantly reduced such settlements.
He also recalled that the devastating earthquake in Türkiye in 2023 caused severe destruction in several regions, after which large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts were launched to rebuild infrastructure and housing in affected areas.
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