PRESS-RELEASE

of “Azerbaijan Migration Center” Public Union

Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries of the world in which nearly half of the population are migrants. Most of them are internal migrants but approximately half a million of these are forced migrants (i.e. individuals from occupied regions; individuals who left their residence because of natural disaster; individuals removed from territories taken for needs of State or public needs; individuals who were forced to leave to look for work).

Although rapid economic development in recent years in Azerbaijan has resulted in an increase in the number of foreign nationals coming to the country, Azerbaijan still remains a country of emigration. That is to say, the number of citizens leaving the country is higher than in comparison with foreigners.

In 2011 several legislative and institutional measures were taken regarding the protection of migrants` rights and freedoms and control of migration. Specifically, the authority of the responsible state bodies in this sphere are now specified, and additions and amendments have been made to some laws.

Despite the cooperation among state authorities, and increased involvement of international organizations and NGO compared with previous years, a complete database on migration - detailing internal migration, permanent and temporary departures, foreign nationals and stateless people - does not exist. The main causes of statelessness are: non-provision of identity documents of individuals who got became statelessness after January 1992; accessibility of obtaining immigrant status by foreign nationals only after coming to Azerbaijan Republic and living there for at least 2 years; problems in documentation of the children born from foreign nationals in the territory of Azerbaijan Republic or children born to citizens of Azerbaijan Republic abroad.

In order to determine the existing problems of the migrants, to establish why the number of undocumented persons have increased, to learn why people become stateless and to draw attention of relevant state authorities to the reasons of violation of stateless rights and freedoms  and to prevent these reasons, from 15 December 2011 “Azerbaijan Migration Center” Public Union announces “ Week of Migrants” relating to International Migrant`s Day. Within this week the employees of the organization will give free legal advice to migrants from 08:00 a.m. till 22:00 p.m. (including Saturday and Sunday), as well as preparing applications to relevant state bodies for resolution of individuals’ problems. Throughout the week, meetings will be organized with the relevant state authorities and it is hoped that solutions to the problems can be achieved together with state bodies. In addition, measures will be taken to increase public awareness of the issue.

During “Week of Migrants” presentations of different reports will be held, and in addition a specific report will be prepared concerning the findings from the Week of Migrants.

“Azerbaijan Migration Center” Public Union kindly requests that members of the College of Advocates of Azerbaijan Republic, NGOs ,International Organization and the Mass media direct undocumented or related persons to “Azerbaijan Migration Center’ PU.

Address: 9,2nd Alatava str., Nasimi district, Baku city

Phone: (+994 12) 4980972

(+994 12) 4989174

e-mail: office@migration-az.org

URL: www.migration-az.org