Baku - This year’s session of IOM’s International Dialogue on Migration (IOM) was held at the Geneva International Conference Center, Switzerland, and online, around the theme of the COVID-19 crisis: “Reimagining the role of migrants and human mobility for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing travel restrictions meant that only one session of the IDM will be organized this year and Ministers, Ambassadors, other representatives of States, the European Union and the United Nations, youth and health representatives, migrant groups, and international and civil society organizations actively participated in this year’s dialogue and many joined the session through online platforms rather than in person.

The session was structured around six panels led by 39 speakers, representing government officials and policy-makers from countries of origin, transit and destinations, representatives of partner United Nations agencies, academic experts in migration and human rights, health experts, civil society, migrants groups and IOM officials.

Mr. Ulvi Aliyev, Chief of International Cooperation Department from the Azerbaijan State Migration Service (SMS) contributed as a speaker in the fifth plenary session around the theme of the “Social cohesion and community resilience: countering discrimination and xenophobia against migrants”. During the plenary session Mr. Aliyev informed the audience about Azerbaijan’s efforts and perspectives to address migrant protection needs amidst COVID19 pandemic, including through digitization, partnership with civil society and the private sector.

IOM expressed its appreciation for Ulvi Aliyev’s contribution to the 2020 session of the International Dialogue on Migration.

In addition, a session on Migrants’ Stories was included which focused on the issue of communication during COVID-19, particularly the importance of building a network of trusted messengers to counter disinformation, and on innovation in the health sector and youth leadership.