BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 15. The headquarters of
the Non-Aligned Movement’s parliamentary network will be
established in Baku, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Parliament’s press
and public relations department.
This decision was announced at the 5th conference of the
Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which took
place in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing together approximately 130
delegates from nearly 50 countries and international
organizations.
The conference was dedicated to the theme “The role of
parliaments in ensuring climate-resilient urbanization in the
Non-Aligned Movement region.”
In her opening remarks, Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker and Chair
of the NAM Parliamentary Network, Sahiba Gafarova, highlighted the
significance of the event, noting that 2026 marks the 65th
anniversary of the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement, which
was founded at the inaugural summit in Belgrade in 1961. Gafarova
expressed satisfaction with the strong participation from
parliamentary delegations and partner organizations, emphasizing
that this reflects not only the commitment of the member
parliaments to support their governments’ efforts but also the
growing influence of the Movement in advancing its strategic
objectives.
Gafarova also noted that since the last conference held in
Tashkent in April 2025, the Parliamentary Network has expanded its
activities and enhanced its international influence. She further
underscored the pressing nature of the conference’s theme, stating
that approximately 3 billion people globally live in inadequate
housing conditions, including over 1.1 billion residing in informal
settlements, and more than 300 million are homeless. This ongoing
global housing crisis has exacerbated socio-economic challenges,
particularly in developing countries, and undermines progress
towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Speaker also provided insight into the forthcoming 13th
session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be hosted by
Azerbaijan in Baku in May 2026, under the theme “Housing for All:
Safe and Resilient Cities.” She described the forum as an important
international platform for addressing the challenges of rapid
urbanization and its impact on cities, national economies, and
climate change. Gafarova noted that following Azerbaijan’s
successful hosting of COP29, this event serves as further evidence
of international confidence in Azerbaijan’s leadership and its
capacity to unite global efforts in tackling common challenges.
Furthermore, Gafarova pointed out that Azerbaijan has designated
2026 as the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture,” recognizing
the country’s significant experience in urban development. She
indicated that WUF13 will provide an interim review of the New
Urban Agenda, evaluating progress over the past decade and setting
priorities for the period leading up to 2036.
The conference participants lauded the institutional development
of the NAM Parliamentary Network under Azerbaijan’s leadership, an
initiative that began at the proposal of President Ilham Aliyev.
The Network’s growing international stature was also acknowledged.
During the event, speakers emphasized the importance of the
conference’s theme and shared their respective perspectives and
proposals. At the conclusion of the conference, the Istanbul
Declaration was adopted.
Additionally, key decisions were made regarding the
establishment of the headquarters for the NAM Parliamentary Network
in Baku and the granting of observer status to the Arab Parliament
within the Network.