The Syrian Future Movement commemorates World Cities Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 as a global occasion to reflect on the realities and aspirations of cities, recognizing the importance of this event in shaping a just, sustainable, and safe urban future for all Syrians.
The Syrian Future Movement firmly believes that urbanization has become a comprehensive human phenomenon, transcending the physical dimension to touch the very essence of social justice, human dignity, and the rights to housing, mobility, and participation.
In Syria, where cities have suffered systematic destruction and political and economic marginalization, this day represents a strategic opportunity to rethink the form of our cities and their role in building a new homeland that embraces everyone.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the importance of World Cities Day lies in the fact that it:
- Highlights urban challenges such as poverty, marginalization, and internal displacement.
- Encourages the adoption of urban policies based on sustainability, transparency, and community participation.
- Promotes cooperation between cities and countries to exchange experiences in reconstruction and urban planning.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that rebuilding Syrian cities should not be limited to infrastructure, but must also include rebuilding the social fabric, civic identity, and spatial justice.
Syrian cities must become spaces of freedom, justice, and innovation, not tools of domination or exclusion.
To benefit from this day in Syria, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Launching national dialogues on the design of new Syrian cities that respect cultural diversity and social justice.
- Involving youth and women in shaping urban policies.
- Cooperating with international organizations to implement UN standards for sustainable urban planning.
- Transforming destroyed sites into symbols of recovery and collective memory.
On this day, the Syrian Future Movement affirms that the city is a space of belonging and dignity, and we pledge to our people to work towards modern, just, green, and smart Syrian cities that will be beacons of peace and prosperity in the region.
