Uruguayan minister calls for housing policy to be considered central to all social reforms

Latin America and the Caribbean are among the most urbanized regions on the planet, yet they are also among the most unequal, Tamara Paseyro, Minister of Housing and Territorial Planning of Uruguay, said at the Forum of Ministers and High Authorities of Housing and Urban Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI) at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Report informs.

"This inequality has a clear territorial dimension: it affects access to housing, land, infrastructure, transportation, public spaces, and urban opportunities. For this reason, we firmly believe that housing cannot be viewed as a narrow sectoral policy. It must be perceived as a central policy-a policy on which the effectiveness of all other social and economic measures depends. This is why this regional platform is so important," the minister said.

As she noted, MINURVI currently has the capacity and responsibility to promote a Latin American and Caribbean urban agenda that takes into account regional specificities, existing inequalities, and existing potential.

"An agenda that centers on the right to housing, territorial integration, climate resilience, access to land, and overcoming urban inequalities. In this context, this meeting is of exceptional political and strategic importance. It will provide an opportunity to continue the work begun during the April plenary meeting, advance the creation of thematic working groups, and strengthen collaboration between national governments, local authorities, and international organizations. Furthermore, this will be an opportunity to define a joint agenda for Latin American and Caribbean countries, taking into account upcoming global processes," Paseyro emphasized.