Katerina Bezgachina: In first three days, WUF13 attracted up to 30,000 participants

Over the first three days, WUF13 attracted up to 30,000 participants from 174 countries, including both in-person and online participation, Katerina Bezgachina, chief of communication at UN-Habitat, said at a press conference during WUF13 in Baku, Report informs.

She stated that the recorded number of participants makes this forum the largest event ever organized by the UN on sustainable urban development and confirms its status as the leading global platform on urbanism.

She noted that the deepening global housing crisis was a key focus of discussion on the third day of the forum. The program included high-level dialogues on the economic and social role of housing.

"UN-Habitat presented the 2026 World Cities Report and, together with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, announced the launch of a partnership on the future of cities," she said.

According to her, the initiative is in the final stages of approval, and a new report based on the results of this work will be presented by the next forum in two years.

She emphasized that the partnership is a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at promoting inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development.