Azerbaijan takes co-chair role at UN migration forum

The second International Migration Review Forum has opened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing together governments, international organisations and civil society to assess progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

Azerbaijan, represented by a delegation led by Vusal Huseynov, Chief of the State Migration Service, is taking part in the four-day forum alongside officials from its Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Permanent Representative Tofig Musayev, Caliber.Az reports, citing the State Migration Service.

The forum, convened every four years, serves as the main intergovernmental platform for reviewing implementation of the GCM, identifying gaps, and shaping global migration governance priorities for the next cycle.

As part of its engagement, Azerbaijan—acting as Co-Chair of the Champion Countries Initiative for GCM implementation in 2026—will deliver a joint statement on behalf of participating states, in addition to presenting a national statement.

On the opening day, the President of the UN General Assembly entrusted Azerbaijan with the co-chairmanship of one of four high-level roundtables, key mechanisms for reviewing progress on GCM objectives. A total of eight countries are co-chairing the roundtables.

Azerbaijan co-chaired Roundtable 1 alongside Sweden, focusing on reducing adverse drivers of migration, expanding regular migration pathways, improving fair recruitment practices, strengthening screening and referral systems, and enhancing skills development and mutual recognition frameworks.

Representatives from member states and international organisations contributed interventions during the session, exchanging assessments on implementation progress and responding to participant questions.

Vusal Huseynov is expected to present the summary of Roundtable 1 during a subsequent policy debate chaired by the International Organisation for Migration.

In parallel, Azerbaijan will co-organise a high-level side event at UN Headquarters in support of preparations for the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku, in partnership with the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the International Organisation for Migration.

The forum is scheduled to conclude on May 8.