Egypt pledges to empower women in urban planning

CAIRO – 4 November 2024: Sherif El-Sherbiny, Egypt's Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, inaugurated the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) on Monday, which Egypt is hosting from November 4 to 8.

The event, with broad international participation, covers critical issues such as housing, sustainable development, and technological transformation in cities, centered around the theme of "human-centric" urban progress.

During his opening remarks, El-Sherbiny welcomed Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), along with esteemed attendees. He emphasized the importance of the collective sessions of the forum, each focused on topics vital to citizens' welfare and economic development, essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Minister El-Sherbiny stressed that the council dedicated to women's issues aims to foster equality and empowerment. This includes identifying barriers that limit women's progress and creating actionable recommendations that can be implemented locally to overcome these challenges.

Access to education, professional and digital training, and adequate housing are pivotal for empowering women and promoting their active role in society.

He pointed out that the council focused on children and youth will explore their contribution to sustainable urban development, building on insights from recent global summits. The importance of incorporating child welfare into urban development discussions is critical, as is aligning youth interests with sustainable initiatives and proposing actionable policies.

The forum aims to develop innovative strategies led by youth to tackle urban challenges and engage them in public policy and initiatives.

The Minister highlighted that Egypt's policies, executed by the Ministry of Housing alongside other governmental bodies and NGOs, prioritize these issues discussed in the ongoing councils. He noted that new urban cities are designed with these aspects in mind to improve citizens' quality of life, ensure livability, facilitate work and education, and attract more residents, investment, and job opportunities.

El-Sherbiny affirmed the significance of this international platform that brings together politicians, academics, researchers, NGOs, governors, and mayors to share insights. He expressed hope for productive discussions that would result in comprehensive recommendations to be included in the forum's final declaration, supporting society and all its members.

The Minister concluded by wishing for beneficial exchanges and tangible outcomes from the forum, aimed at achieving sustainable urban solutions that align with the needs of all segments of society.