The 13th Global Baku Forum, held under the theme “Bridging Divides in a World in Transition,” featured another panel session on “Global Cooperation for Housing: Perspectives for WUF13.”

Moderated by Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly; former Minister of Foreign, Affairs of Ecuador, the panel session highlighted the necessity of systemic reform in an era where global cities are facing a profound housing crisis, lack of access to housing due to social and economic challenges.

Addressing the panel, Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said that many urban populations live in unsafe and substandard housing, adding that without a formal address, residents in these areas are effectively locked out of the economy, struggling to find work or build enterprises.

Anar Guliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, WUF13 National Coordinator, underscored the vital role of such international platforms in fostering dialogue, building trust, and developing collective solutions to shared challenges amid complex global transitions.

Other speakers at the panel session included Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the City of London 2023-2024; Sheriff of the City of London 2019-2021, Benedetto Zacchiroli, Chair of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities of UNESCO, President of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism, and Ana Birchall, Presidential Adviser, Department of Foreign Policy, Strategic Partnerships, and Romanians Abroad 2025; former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Romania.