During a session in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees was implored to facilitate the repatriation of Azerbaijani refugees to Western Azerbaijan. On September 19, an international event titled "Regional NGO Consultations" took place in Geneva, co-organized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Council of International Voluntary Associations. Israyil Isgandarov, a member of the Supervisory Board of the State Support Agency for NGOs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Executive Director of "Umid" Social Development Support PU, actively participated in this event.
During his address at the plenary session, I. Isgandarov addressed the plight of Azerbaijani refugees who had been forcibly expelled from Armenia, stating, "Between 1987 and 1991, more than 200,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis were forcibly deported from the Armenian SSR, and today, their numbers continue to rise. The most pressing issue at hand is their safe return. I earnestly urge the UN institutions, the UN representation in Azerbaijan, and the UNHCR representation in Azerbaijan to prioritize and address this critical matter."
The "Regional NGO Consultations" are a longstanding annual tradition, and this year's gathering also encompassed the final preparations for the II Global Refugee Forum, scheduled for December 2023.