# Western Azerbaijan Society

Western Azerbaijan Society- is an organization created to unite the Azerbaijani people and their descendants who were forcibly deported en masse from present-day Armenia, with the aim of fostering social and cultural unity.

## History

The "Western Azerbaijan Society" is the legal successor of the "Azerbaijan Refugee Society," which has been active since 1989. The decision to transform the society into a non-commercial organization under the name "Western Azerbaijan Society" was approved during the general assembly of the society held on August 3, 2022. The leader of the organization is Aziz Alekberli, a deputy of the National Assembly.

### Scientific activity

Discussions have been held within the framework of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences regarding the development of mutual scientific relations. During the meeting of the Coordination Council for Research on Western Azerbaijan, discussions were held.

### Commissioning of the community building

Since August 2022, the "Western Azerbaijan Society" has been operating in the building located at 9 G. Gadirbeyov Street, Narimanov District, which was formerly occupied by the Shusha District Executive Authority and the organization "Return to Karabakh" (formerly known as the Society of Azerbaijanis of Mountainous Karabakh).
On December 24, 2022, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the administrative building of the Western Azerbaijan Society and acquainted himself with the conditions created there. He also held a meeting with a group of visitors from Western Azerbaijan.

## Ideology and structure
### Ideology

The purpose of the society is to achieve the social and cultural unity of Azerbaijani individuals and their descendants who have been forcibly deported en masse from Armenian territory at various times due to their ethnic identity. This includes the restoration of their rights on an international level, the study and promotion of the rich historical and cultural heritage created by the Azerbaijani people in Armenian territory, preventing its destruction, ensuring the right of those individuals to return to their ancestral homeland, and facilitating coexistence. To fulfill these purposes, the society's responsibilities and rights have been determined.

### Structure

The society consists of Observation, Elders, Visitors, Women, and Custodian Councils (with Mürvet Həsənli serving as the President of the Custodian Council), as well as the executive committee, Supervisory-Inspection Commission, Youth Union, and representations in foreign countries. On January 8, 2023, an Elm Commission (Science Commission) was established within the Western Azerbaijan Society.
Representative offices have been established within the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Ganja, Sumqayit, and Goranboy-Naftalan. Additionally, a representative office has been established in the Netherlands.

## International communications

On October 6, 2023, a representative of the Western Azerbaijan Society, Kamal Jafarov, held meetings in Geneva with responsible individuals from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the "Geneva Geostrategy Observatory." Discussions focused on the issues of Azerbaijani returnees to Armenia and their reintegration.
On October 23, 2023, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatović, met with the leadership of the Western Azerbaijan Society and Azerbaijani members of the society. The discussion revolved around the issue of Azerbaijani returnees to Armenia. Mijatović emphasized the need for political will regarding the return issue and expressed her commitment to working within her mandate on these matters.
On December 5, 2023, the President of the Western Azerbaijan Society, Aziz Alekberli, met with the Deputy Chairman of Turkey's ruling party (AK Party) and Member of the Turkish Parliament, Zafar Sırakaya. The meeting involved an exchange of ideas on bilateral relations, and the issue of Azerbaijani returnees to Armenia was discussed.