Multi-stakeholder consultations on "Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration" held at the State Migration Service

On February 11, multi-stakeholder consultations on “Implementation of the “Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration” in Azerbaijan and Future Priorities” have been jointly organized by the State Migration Service, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan. The event was held as a part of preparations for the second International Migration Review Forum, scheduled for May 5-8 of this year.

The main purpose of the consultations, attended by representatives of relevant state bodies, was to discuss the objectives and principles of the “Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration” (GCM), the achievements of the Republic of Azerbaijan in its implementation, the contributions and proposals made within the competence of the respective state institutions, as well as the priorities ahead of the Forum.

Welcoming the participants, Chief of the State Migration Service, II rank state migration service counselor Vusal Huseynov, provided information on the national-level measures taken for the effective implementation of the GCM, the contributions of Azerbaijan to regional and global cooperation as a “Champion Country” for GCM implementation, as well as the country’s active participation in the first International Migration Review Forum held in 2022. Emphasizing that migration is a cross-border and cross-sectoral process, the Chief of the Service noted that, in this regard, the whole-of-government principle, one of the guiding GCM principles, holds particular importance. It was underlined that Azerbaijan continues its active involvement in the preparation process for the second International Migration Review Forum, with the current consultations serving as a valuable contribution.

In the opening session, Lars Johan Lönnbak, Head of IOM’s Mission in Georgia and Country Office with Coordinating Functions in the region, and Igor Garafulic, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim in Azerbaijan, highlighted the role of the GCM in global migration governance and the significance of Azerbaijan’s achievements in the sphere of international cooperation on this field.

During the event, detailed information was provided on the importance of the GCM, the preparation process for the second International Migration Review Forum, the results achieved in Azerbaijan regarding the implementation of the Compact, as well as the contributions of the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2026–2030, signed between the UN and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to the implementation of the Compact.

Subsequently, interactive discussions were held with the participation of representatives of invited state institutions on the work carried out and future activities related to the implementation of the Compact, and an exchange of views took place around Azerbaijan’s priorities ahead of the Forum