ECLAC: New model of urban development needed

Latin America and the Caribbean are facing the need to rethink approaches to urban policy amid demographic changes and rising levels of violence, Diego Aulestia, Head of the Human Settlements Unit at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), said during the event "From Commitments to Impact – Joint Integrated Improvement of Quality of Life in Cities" held within the framework of World Urban Forum 13 in Baku.

Report quotes him as saying the region is experiencing a slowdown in urbanization, while Latin America is gradually becoming an "aging continent," creating additional socio-economic challenges.

"The key factor is the demographic shift associated with population aging and changes in the structure of urban development, which requires the adaptation of public policies," he said.

He also stressed that one of the most acute and complex issues remains the level of violence in the region, including high rates of intentional homicides, which, according to him, are among the highest in the world.

"The issue of violence cannot be considered separately from urban policy and must be integrated into urban and housing planning strategies," he noted.

Aulestia emphasized the need to develop a new model of urban development, since existing institutional approaches were formed in the last century and no longer meet modern challenges.