Karabağlar Municipality Joins WHO Healthy Cities Network Meeting in Portugal

Karabağlar Municipality officials participated in an international program in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, as part of the World Health Organization's European Healthy Cities Network 2026 Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference. The delegation, headed by Mayor Helil Kınay, engaged with local government representatives from across Europe. They attended sessions focused on healthy cities, participatory governance, climate change, social equity, and sustainable urban policies.

During the conference, Karabağlar Municipality presented its "Başkan Mahallede" (Mayor in the Neighborhood) initiative. This program encourages direct citizen participation in decision-making and aims to identify and resolve local issues on-site. The initiative garnered significant interest from international attendees.

The program also facilitated international discussions to enhance Karabağlar Municipality's global collaborations, share best practices, and establish new partnerships with European cities. Mayor Kınay's delegation held meetings with key figures, including Chris Brown, Head of the WHO European Health and Development Investment Office; Kira Fortune, responsible for Healthy Aging and Healthy Environments at the same office; Cork City Councillor Tony Fitzgerald from Ireland; Viana do Castelo City Councillor Ricardo Rego; and Palaio Faliro Mayor Ioannis Fostiropoulos from Greece. These discussions centered on the healthy cities approach, participatory practices in local governance, and potential future joint projects.

Karabağlar Municipality stated its commitment to actively participating in international networks to increase the city's visibility and continue its work towards sustainable development goals.