Statement at the Third Committee of the eightieth session of the

 United Nations General Assembly

Interactive Dialogue with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Delivered by Mr. Shahriyar Hajiyev, First Secretary

6 November 2025

Mr. Chair,

We thank Mr. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, for his report and briefing.

The increasing number of displaced populations worldwide, primarily driven by conflicts and violence, is a shared responsibility of the international community. Displacement renders people vulnerable to the realisation of their human rights by disrupting essential aspects of life. Therefore, collective commitment is imperative to address displacement, particularly through the achievement of durable solutions.

Azerbaijan has first-hand experience with forcible displacement, hosting one of the largest per capita refugees and IDPs in the world as a consequence of the conflict since the early 1990s. During the post-conflict period, the Government has launched extensive rehabilitation and reconstruction measures in the liberated territories to facilitate the safe and dignified return of IDPs to their places of origin. The Great Return Programme has already supported the return, resettlement, and integration of more than 50,000 former IDPs across six cities, two towns, and twenty villages.

Mr. Chair,

The return of IDPs is significantly hindered by the widespread mine contamination of the liberated areas. The number of post-conflict mine victims in Azerbaijan is rising and has reached 410 since November 2020, of whom 71 lost their lives and 339 were seriously injured, most of them civilians.   

General Assembly resolution 78/205 on the “Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons” expresses deep concern at the threat posed by landmines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices to IDPs, impeding their voluntary return, local integration and resettlement, and notes the urgency of providing protection from landmines.  

The scale of this pressing humanitarian concern necessitates adequate international assistance for humanitarian demining with a view to strengthening the ongoing national efforts to restore the human rights of IDPs.

Mr. Chair,

Since acceding to the Global Compact on Refugees in 2018, and in line with its objectives, the Government of Azerbaijan has been implementing national measures to support refugees residing in Azerbaijan, including their access to preferential educational opportunities, healthcare benefits, and legal employment.

At the same time, an inter-agency Working Group on Statelessness Issues in Azerbaijan was established in 2020 with the aim of coordinating national efforts to eliminate statelessness. Regular meetings of the Working Group are held to this end, and measures on the acquisition of the citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan by those persons have been expanded.

As 2025 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Statute of the UNHCR, it is a vital moment for the international community to strengthen its efforts to address the growing displacements. Azerbaijan remains committed to fulfilling its obligations and creating better conditions for the enjoyment of human rights by all persons residing within its territory.

Thank you.