On the occasion of the 40th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Executive Director of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, Ambassador Idriss Jazairy, accompanied by the Centre’s Project and Communications Officer Mr Blerim Mustafa met with representatives from the Azeri-based NGO International Eurasia Press Fund led by its President Mr Umud Mirzayev accompanied by his advisers Mr Ramil Azizov and Ms Anastasia Lavrina.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss potential areas of collaboration between the Geneva Centre and the International Eurasia Press Fund in the framework of the promotion and advancement of human rights at a global level.

Options to initiate joint initiatives between both think-thanks to promote mutual understanding and cooperative relations between people were likewise explored by the parties.

In this connection, Ambassador Jazairy informed the International Eurasia Press Fund delegation that the Geneva Centre has been extended an invitation by the Organizing Committee of the 2019 Baku Forum to organize a conference, during the 5th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue to be held from 2-3 May 2019 in Baku, on the interplay between religions and equal citizenship rights.

The main purpose of this event – Ambassador Jazairy observed – would be to follow-up on the recommendations of the Outcome Declaration entitled “Moving Towards Greater Spiritual Convergence Worldwide in Support of Equal Citizenship Rights” adopted on 25 June 2018 at the World Conference on “Religions, Creeds and Value Systems: Joining Forces to Enhance Equal Citizenship Rights” held under the Patronage of HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

In this Declaration, the co-signatories appealed to decision-makers worldwide to promote models of equal citizenship rights and to address challenges impeding the realization of peaceful and inclusive societies as set forth in SDG 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ambassador Jazairy said that the Geneva Centre’s conference in Baku on equal citizenship rights will likewise contribute to support the realization of the Baku Process initiated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan HE Ilham Aliyev.

Mr Mirzayev remarked that the Geneva Centre and the International Eurasia Press Fund are united by their vision to promote equal citizenship rights in multi-cultural and multi-religious societies worldwide, and to promote a value-driven human rights system.

Both parties agreed to sign a partnership agreement to formalize their cooperation and to organize a follow-up meeting in Azerbaijan to concretize the collaboration between the Geneva Centre and the International Eurasia Press Fund.