The Baku Declaration on WUF13 was prepared at the initiative and under the organization of the Global South NGO Platform (GSNP). The document was opened for signature by international NGO representatives participating in WUF13. In total, 569 representatives of NGOs from 103 countries signed the Declaration.

The Declaration states:

"We, the representatives of civil society organizations gathered in Baku within the framework of WUF13, declare the following:

  • We congratulate Azerbaijan on the successful organization of WUF13 and its significant contribution to international urban dialogue and cooperation. For the first time in the history of the Forum, the Leaders’ Summit elevated urban development to a new political level and placed it among the priorities of the international agenda.
  • At a time when urbicide, culturicide, and ecocide are manifesting themselves in different parts of the world, Azerbaijan’s post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation experience serves as an important methodological example for the international community. In this regard, we propose that the 'Azerbaijan Experience' be recognized as an international benchmark for the reconstruction of post-conflict regions worldwide and as a key reference model at international forums dedicated to this field.
  • The NGO Forum, held in Baku for the first time in the history of WUF, marks a new stage in ensuring civil society participation in the WUF process.
  • The convening of the First General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform (GSNP), which brings together more than 1,000 NGOs from different countries, and the establishment of its leadership represent a historic milestone in the institutional consolidation of global civil society. Through the GSNP network, this Declaration serves as an act of global solidarity in support of affordable housing and inclusive urban development. We call upon UN-Habitat to continue supporting this initiative, recognize GSNP as the official civil society partner of WUF, and make this model a permanent component of future Forums. We also propose the establishment of a Global South Cities Knowledge Centre to systematize and disseminate successful urban development practices.
  • From Baku, we call upon all international partners to support people-centered urban policies and to strengthen coordinated global action for urban resilience, sustainable development, and inclusive societies.
  • In line with the Letter of Intent on developing joint operational guidelines for future WUF sessions based on the experience of WUF13, we encourage the organization of future Forums in accordance with the Baku Standard.

22 May 2026, Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan."

It should be noted that the Baku Declaration was adopted three days after the WUF13 NGO Forum, which was held on 19 May 2026 for the first time in the history of WUF, in partnership with the Global South NGO Platform (GSNP) and organized by the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

During the discussions at the WUF13 NGO Forum, attended by nearly 800 local and international NGO representatives, participants proposed the establishment of the Urban Wing of GSNP, bringing together the local and international NGOs represented at WUF13.

At the opening ceremony of the WUF13 NGO Forum, Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, described the Forum as a historic event for WUF.

Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), described the Global South NGO Platform as a fantastic initiative and congratulated Azerbaijan on its establishment in Baku.

Christian Mensah, former Secretary of the UN-Habitat Governing Board, congratulated GSNP for creating a civil society hub for local and international NGOs at WUF13. He noted that, in today's complex international environment, the Bandung Principles have regained relevance and that this event represents a practical manifestation of those principles through cooperation and multilateral partnership.