“I highly appreciate the hospitality shown by Azerbaijan to the forum participants,” Ana Falú, co-founder of the Latin American Women and Habitat Network, said during her speech at the closing ceremony of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, APA reports.
She expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani government, as well as to the volunteers and all partners involved in organizing the forum, noting that their kindness and professionalism made a significant contribution to the success of the event.
In her speech, Ana Falú stated that despite progress achieved in the field of women’s rights, millions of women around the world still face various forms of systemic discrimination. According to her, women encounter multiple barriers depending on race, ethnicity, age, disability, and the areas where they live.
She noted that these challenges negatively affect women’s right to adequate housing, their right to the city, and their opportunities to participate in the development of the areas where they live.
“That is why there is a need to listen to women’s voices. Ensuring that women’s voices are heard is of crucial importance,” Ana Falú added.
The Latin American expert stressed that women’s participation in shaping urban planning and housing policies must be strengthened and that their rights should be regarded as one of the key elements in building sustainable and inclusive cities.
