7TH ANNUAL TECHNICAL MEETING OF THE
VENICE DECLARATION SIGNATORIES
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 15-16-17 June 2026
(Valencia, Spain)
GENERAL INFORMATION
RATIONALE
Following up the World Summit on Social Development (Doha, Qatar, 4-6 November 2025), the Inclusive Cities for Sustainable Families Project will convene its 7th Annual Technical Meeting to advance its mission: promoting family-oriented urban policies that strengthen social cohesion, equity, and sustainability.
Across recent decades, rapid urbanization has profoundly transformed family structures and living arrangements. These changes have brought both persistent and emerging challenges:
– Digital divide, parenting support and skill-building
– Urban population aging– Rising demand for caregiving and childcare
– Mental health pressures linked to social fragmentation and economic stress
Building on insights from the 6th Technical Meeting (2025), this year’s gathering will place families at the center of the social development agenda. It will focus on how urban governance can respond to today’s global challenges through:
– Inclusive digital transitions
– Investment in care systems
– Supportive environments for mental well-being
PARTICIPANTS
Signatories of the Venice Declaration will present local policies and good practices applying a family perspective to address these complex issues. Urban policymakers, technical experts, and civil society leaders will engage in peer learning and joint reflection on how best follow-up on the outcomes of the II World Social Summit, while contributing to the implementation of SDG 11 -Sustainable Cities and Communities and the New Urban Agenda promoted by ONU-Habitat, UN DESA, and the Venice Declaration.
KEY OBJECTIVES
– Policy Exchange: Share innovations in family-oriented urban policies, highlighting the role of technology in service delivery, care economy mechanisms, and community-based mental health models.
– Monitoring Reports: Review and enhance the Annual Monitoring Reports submitted by Venice Declaration signatories.
– Good Practices Platform: Strengthen this collaborative tool to promote evidence-based urban policies.
– Indicators and Enabling Conditions: Identify key indicators and enabling factors to build resilient, caring, and inclusive urban communities with families as a cornerstone.
FEATURED INNOVATIONS
– Live Cases in Urban Innovation: In partnership with Elisan Network, the European Delegate of the Project, the live case methodology introduces real urban challenges into the academic setting, not to showcase successes, but to analyze root causes, co-create solutions, and learn collaboratively.
– Youth and Policy Development: Support of young people in policy implementation, evaluation and support among Signatories of the Venice Declaration. This year some IPC Students will come along and give their vision about family-friendly policies.
– Expanding Partnerships: Strengthening the international alliance for family-centered urban regeneration.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The 7th Technical Meeting will build on previous gatherings, delivering forward-looking policy recommendations and an updated Action Plan to guide Venice Declaration signatories toward key capacity-building instruments and commitments.
These outcomes will include:
– Concrete steps to scale up successful models
– Prioritization of vulnerable families
– Embedding a human-centered vision of progress into future urban policies.
By reinforcing inter-municipal collaboration and showcasing scalable innovations, this Technical Meeting aims to inspire stronger global commitments to social development — beginning at the level of the family and extending across the urban fabric.
GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATION
EVENT STRUCTURE
The event will focus on advancing the Inclusive Cities and Sustainable Families Project though the Venice Declaration. In particular, we will discuss opportunities that may arise for the 2026 International Urban Forum in Baku, which will be submitted to the United Nations this year and we will explore better ways to follow-up on the Sustainable Development Goals thanks to recommendations from already Good Practices developed by various signatories around the globe.
During the 7th Annual Technical Meeting and the Observance of World Cities Day 2026 it will also hold the General Assembly of the Elisan Network.
To ensure a smooth and productive session, we would like to outline the guidelines for your participation:
GOOD PRACTICES EXCHANGE PRESENTATION
– Each speaker will have 15 minutes for their presentation, followed by an additional 5 minutes for recommendations.
– Your recommendations are crucial as they will contribute to an outcome document aimed at advancing the Venice Declaration.
– If you are one of the speakers and presenters of Good Practices on behalf of your Signatory, please let us know any questions you may have.
LIVE CASES PRESENTATION
– The protagonists will have 10 minutes for their presentation, finalizing with the main challenges
– The challenges are crucial as they are the key to open the dialogue and outline the steps forward in the next 40 minutes.
– The expected outcome of the live case is a roadmap for the transformation of the challenge into a good practice.
SUPPORTIVE MATERIALS
We kindly request that you submit your presentations and any audiovisual materials by June 6th, 2026.
Please send them to un@iffd.org
LOGISTICAL INFORMATION
Thank you very much for coming to Valencia, Spain to participate in the Annual Technical Meeting of the network of municipalities and local governments that have signed the Venice Declaration.
On behalf of the Elisan Network, we would like to welcome you to Valencia, Spain and share some guidelines to facilitate your stay with us.
VENUE
– Physical Venue: Valencia
– Time Zone: (CEST, UTC+2)
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
– Valencia Airport: located 2 km from downtown Buenos Aires and 53 km from Pilar.
- It is recommended to book a taxi service in the exit, there will be some waiting when you exit the airport. There is 8-10 km between the airport an the city, you will be 15-20 minutes in the taxi, costing between 20-25€
LOCAL CURRENCY
There are several ATMs inside the airport.
You can withdraw euros directly with your bank card.
This is usually cheaper than exchanging cash.
MORE INFORMATION
– Plug System
- In Spain, the plug type is European (Type C / Type F) — two round pins.It is recommended to bring a universal adapter to ensure compatibility. The electrical voltage is 230 V.
CONTACT
José Alejandro Vázquez (Alex)
Director of International Relations
famperspective@gmail.com
WA: +1 (973) 510-1276
