On 10-12 May 2023, ADA Model United Nations Club organized the ADAMUN Simulation Conference dedicated to the “Year of Heydar Aliyev” at ADA University.

The event attended by about 70 students from 27 schools and universities began with the official opening session where the participants were welcomed by Ms Vladanka Andreeva, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Mr Vladimir Gjorgjiev, Chief of Mission for IOM Azerbaijan, and Mr Fariz Ismayilzade, Executive Vice Rector of ADA University.

Ms Vladanka Andreeva noted that young people play an important role in solving global problems and that initiatives such as the UN model are an invaluable opportunity for them to learn diplomacy and international relations.

During the main committee of the conference in which the delegates discussed “The economic impact and environmental displacement of immigrants” Mr Vladimir Gjorgjiev, Chief of Mission for IOM Azerbaijan gave valuable information to the students about IOM strategies on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change, its global and local projects, and achievements in this field. Noting that the consequences of climate change on migration present humanity with an unprecedented challenge, Gjorgjiev said that forecasts regarding the number of affected people by climate change by 2050 vary from 25 million to 1 billion people with a figure of 200 million being the most widely cited estimate.

 Talking about IOM’s local projects in Azerbaijan Gjorgjiev gave information about Kahriz Rehabilitation project which overall objective is to contribute to the prevention of forced economic migration by enhancing access of rural communities in Azerbaijan to energy-free water resources as a means to increase agriculture productivity and livelihoods through provision of water infrastructure, by providing opportunities for income-generating activities in link with Kahriz renovation.

 During the conference, the participants discussed climate change, migration, food security, hate speech, and other issues and adopt resolutions encouraging joint efforts to address these issues.