Azerbaijan highlights role as WUF13 host at UN migration forum side event

A high-level side event titled “Safe, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities in the Age of Migration – Towards WUF13” was held at the United Nations Headquarters within the framework of the second International Migration Review Forum.

Co-organised by the Republic of Azerbaijan, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the event was among 18 high-level side events selected for the Forum. It aimed to promote the upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be hosted in Baku, and to explore the interlinkages between migration and urbanisation processes, Caliber.Az reports, citing the State Migration Service.

Opening the event, Vusal Huseynov, Chief of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan, underlined that Azerbaijan’s role as host country of WUF13 and co-chair of the “Champion Countries” Initiative for the current year creates strong opportunities for synergy between the International Migration Review Forum and WUF13. He emphasised the importance of the migration–urban governance nexus in unlocking the development potential of migration and noted that discussions initiated at the event would continue in the lead-up to WUF13 in Baku.

Speeches were also delivered by Arthur Erken, IOM Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, and Toni-Shae Freckleton, Director of the UN-Habitat New York Liaison Office.

The subsequent panel discussion and interactive session were moderated by Tofig Musayev, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations. Participants representing governments, international organisations, academia, and civil society highlighted the importance of implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) to support migrant integration, strengthen social cohesion, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The need for enhanced international cooperation in this field was also underscored.

A policy debate held on the second day of the Forum summarised the outcomes of the roundtable discussions. During the session, chaired by the Director-General of the IOM, Vusal Huseynov presented the conclusions of Roundtable 1, outlining key areas of consensus and priority actions.

In addition, Vusal Huseynov participated as a panel speaker in the high-level dialogue titled “Migration Solutions: From Commitments to Action”. The session brought together senior officials, including the Director-General of IOM, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Asylum and Migration of the Netherlands, the Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh, and the Minister for Migration of Sweden.

During his remarks, Huseynov shared Azerbaijan’s experience as a Champion Country in advancing the implementation of the GCM, stressing that effective utilisation of technical and financial support remains essential for achieving tangible progress in global migration governance.

By Vugar Khalilov