Baku, May 4, 2025 – The Europe Today: An international online conference titled “The Possibility of Living Together in Peace Amid a Changing World” was convened Saturday, bringing together distinguished participants from over ten countries. The event was co-organized by the Council of Women of the Western Azerbaijan Community, the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of North Carolina (USA), and the Assembly of Turkish American Associations.
Timed to precede two significant United Nations observances – the International Day of Living Together in Peace on May 16 and the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on May 21 – the conference sought to highlight the importance of peaceful coexistence and to elevate the issue of the Western Azerbaijanis’ right of return onto the international agenda.
Gathering nearly 200 participants, including prominent politicians, heads of civil society organizations, academics, and researchers, the event served as a platform for a rich exchange of perspectives on conflict resolution, coexistence, and human rights. Discussions centered on the challenges of ensuring peaceful reintegration and the necessity of international support for the return process of Western Azerbaijanis in accordance with global human rights norms.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants issued a unified appeal to the United Nations and other international organizations, urging recognition and support for the Western Azerbaijan Community’s Concept of Return as a matter of human rights and justice.
The conference echoed the values enshrined in UN General Assembly Resolution 72/130, which established May 16 as the International Day of Living Together in Peace. It also reaffirmed the relevance of the UNESCO-led World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, celebrated annually on May 21. Both observances emphasize peace, tolerance, mutual understanding, and the promotion of intercultural dialogue as essential foundations for sustainable development.
In their final statement, organizers and participants underscored that the guiding principles and legal standards reflected in these UN resolutions form a comprehensive international legal framework to support the aspirations and rights of displaced communities, including the Western Azerbaijanis, to return and live in peace and dignity.
