Baku, July 20, 2026 – The Europe Today: An Azerbaijani delegation led by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Indira Hajiyeva participated in a series of events held during the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, highlighting the country’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening youth engagement.
According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, the discussions focused on the implementation of the SDGs and the critical role of young people in promoting sustainable development.
On the sidelines of the forum, Hajiyeva met with Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs and head of the UN Youth Office. The two sides discussed prospects for expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UN Youth Office, including opportunities for Azerbaijani youth to participate in the office’s future internship programmes.
As part of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), a photo exhibition entitled “Volunteering in the CICA Member States” was inaugurated at the United Nations. The exhibition was jointly organised by the CICA Secretariat and Kazakhstan, showcasing volunteer initiatives across CICA member states.
In addition, a side event titled “Best Practices in Volunteering in the CICA Member States” was held, providing a platform for participants to exchange experiences and discuss successful volunteer programmes that contribute to sustainable development and community engagement across the region.
The events underscored Azerbaijan’s continued efforts to promote youth participation, volunteerism and international cooperation as key components of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
