UCLG-MEWA participated at a high level in the Mercociudades Summit, organized by Mercociudades, a major network of local governments in Latin America. UCLG-MEWA Secretary General Dr. Mehmet Duman, along with UCLG Executive President and Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Uğur İbrahim Altay, attended the summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme “Pathways to Resilient, Peaceful and Sustainable Cities.”
During the summit, the delegation represented the multifaceted structural problems facing cities in the Middle East and West Asia region on an international platform, linking them to the global urban agenda. Dr. Mehmet Duman’s approach to increasing the resilience of local governments in the face of crises, strengthening inclusive and participatory governance mechanisms, and deepening regional collaborations contributed to UCLG’s global mission and the ongoing discussions at the meeting.
It was also stated that balanced representation of regions organizations in UCLG’s decision-making processes contributes to the development of more equitable and effective policies that reflect the real needs of cities.
Uğur İbrahim Altay, in the general sessions focusing on topics such as combating climate change, sustainable development, social cohesion, and peace-oriented city diplomacy, drew attention to the increasing capacity of local governments to find solutions to global problems; he emphasized the importance of the active and strong participation of regional networks in the new era of UCLG.
During the summit, contacts were made with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and numerous local and regional leaders. The discussions centered on strengthening solidarity between cities from different regions, enhancing the role of local governments in climate action, and identifying areas of collaboration for more equitable, inclusive, and livable cities.
