Baku - Azerbaijan’s elevation to the steering group of the influential Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) has been welcomed by IOM as a highly positive development.

The GFMD is a United Nations initiative addresses the complex relationships between migration and development, as well as promoting practical, evidence-based cooperation among governments.

IOM Azerbaijan closely collaborates with the Azerbaijani Government, the first post-Soviet state to become a member of the Steering Group, to enhance institutional and human capital capacities of the state agencies responsible for migration management.

“We are pleased that as the main partner of the government in the field of migration, IOM also contributed to the achievements of Azerbaijan through its assistance on legislation development, awareness-raising, border management, return and reintegration, fighting against human trafficking, diaspora mapping and more,” said Vladimir Gjorgjiev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Baku.

“The pandemic underscores the need for robust migration policies”, Gjorgjiev continued. “Azerbaijan has been impacted in many ways and the coronavirus lockdown has left many migrants jobless and stranded”.

Gjorgjiev also emphasized the importance of assisting foreign migrants in Azerbaijan who face numerous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.