The International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) is an independent non-governmental organization registered in 1992. The International Eurasia Press Fund, a member of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2007 as a special adviser, is also a member of the Council of Europe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (ECRE), the US Department of State's Public-Private Partnership Program (PM / WRA) and the International Peace Bureau. (IPB) is a member of the International Press Institute (IPI). IEPF UN agencies, European Commission, US State Department, US Agency for International Development, World Bank, Government of Japan, International Press Institute, International Federation of Journalists, Lutheran World Relief and Caunterpart International Humanitarian Organizations, Azerbaijan Culture and Tourism Ministry, Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), Finka Azerbaijan Non-Bank Credit Organization, Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, State Support Fund for Media Development under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and other international and local authorities operates in partnership with organizations.
IEPF is one of the founders of the Azerbaijan Press Council and the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum. Since 2007, the IEPF has been included in the list of organizations coordinated by the Republican Commission for International Humanitarian Aid in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Organization operates in 5 main areas: Development of media and civil society; Community development; Problems of refugees and IDPs; Peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and Education.
OVERVIEW
2013 should be marked as a successful year in the activities of the IEPF in terms of development, strengthening opportunities for international cooperation, building new ties, implementation of socio-humanitarian programs covering various aspects.
The most important achievements of the reporting year were the discussion of IEPF's membership in the UN Socio-Economic Council as the first NGO not only from Azerbaijan but also from the South Caucasus with special consultative status, and with international donor agencies and organizations for sustainable development goals after 2015. strategic meetings, opportunities for cooperation with international organizations such as the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA), the Geneva Media Center, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, human rights, and the creation of partnership prospects for 2014 to address environmental issues. Continuation of measures taken to protect freedom of media and expression in accordance with the mission of the International Press Institute (IPI), further strengthening the work of the IPI Baku Regional Center, expanding the geography of activities of the IEPF by establishing IPI local committees in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia has been an important event in its activities. The IEPF's successful strategy in 2013 with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and the US State Department paved the way for a new multi-stakeholder reintegration program for refugees and internally displaced persons. Thanks to the successful work with UNICEF, the agreement to implement the Azerbaijan Youth Support Program in 14 more districts in 2014 has already opened wide opportunities for the project to be developed in other countries as a model. Joining the Sustainable Development Goals Platform, the IEPF became a member of the UN Environment Program Framework Group and Participants Assembly in March 2013. Already in July 2013, the IEPF, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Northern Alliance for International Cooperation (NAİC) participated in more than 20 non-governmental organizations from the CIS and Azerbaijani government representatives in July 2013. After 2015, the post became a first in the post-Soviet space with the holding of an international event on "Sustainable Development and the Green Economy" and the preparation of the "Baku Declaration", which defined the contours of the Sustainable Development Goals. The program statement and platform adopted at the end of the event were presented for discussion at the UN High-Level Segment Meeting.
The IEPF has been a member of the International Peace Bureau (IBRD) since 2000. In September last year, the head of the IEPF, a member of the Supreme Council of the BSB at the General Assembly in Stockholm, as well as the BSB in 18 countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria) was another success on behalf of the NGO. It should be noted that 14 members of this prestigious organization have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and a number of influential international organizations have been awarded this highest award.
For 20 years, the IEPF has been a shining example of cooperation with civil society, government and various stakeholders. The organization, which has done significant work to build capacity and support initiatives through cooperation with international and local organizations, has also been involved in the development of advocacy and politically important methodological documents. Today, more than 150 people work on various humanitarian projects implemented by the IEPF, which has become the country's leading non-governmental organization. The IEPF ended 2013 as a year of development.
MAIN ACTIVITIES OF ACTIVITY
A. DEVELOPMENT OF MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY
In 2013, the IEPF made a number of achievements in its work on the development of the media and civil society, and expanded its media activities in order to cover the issues in more detail. Given that a large aspect of its activities is related to the media, the IEPF seeks to support the process of building a strong media and civil society not only in Azerbaijan but also in the region. Over the past year, the IEPF has organized a number of media events for Azerbaijani civil society organizations. The Azerbaijani government has continued to support the development process through the Council for State Support to NGOs and the State Support Fund for Media Development under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as other donors. The IEPF is closely involved in the development process to achieve greater success in civil society and the media in general.
In 2013, the International Press Institute and the UN Economic and Social Council played a more important role in the IEPF's annual activities on media and civil society development.
Support freedom of the press
In 2013, the IEPF actively participated in the monitoring of media and human rights processes not only in Azerbaijan, the Caucasus and Central Asia, but also in Eastern Europe in general, the study of civil society institutions, the promotion of democratic reforms based on international experience, and the development of the media network.
The chairman of the Organization, a member of the board of the International Press Institute (IPI), and the head of the IPI Baku Regional Initiative Center visited Georgia earlier this year. He met with a group of journalists who applied to become a member of the IPI in Georgia.
At a meeting with well-known journalists of the neighboring country Natia Koberidze, David Paitchadze, Mikheil Tavkhelidze, Eka Tsamalashvili and Paata Veshapidze, the head of the organization spoke in detail about the mission of the IPI and its work. During the discussions, the sides exchanged views on the establishment of the Georgian National Committee of the IPI and decided on the prospects for future cooperation.
After that, IEPF Chairman, Member of the Board of the International Press Institute (IPI) and Head of the Baku Regional Center for the post-Soviet republics and Eastern Europe, participated in the XI Eurasia Media Forum in April this year during a visit to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. discussed the establishment of IPI National Committees in both countries, the expansion of the media and free speech network, as well as the IEPF's cooperation with relevant bodies.
On the eve of the visit, discussions were held on the development of independent media and freedom of speech in the Kyrgyz National News Agency "Khabar", the Public Broadcasting Corporation of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Trade Union of Media Workers of Kyrgyzstan and the role of IPI National Committees in this field.
Dissemination of objective information, promotion of free speech and free thought, bringing the correct information from the conflict zones to the attention of the world community and promoting this activity are among the main activities of the IEPF in the field of media. In September 2013, Ibrahim Shahin, head of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), was awarded a special prize by the Eurasia Institute for International Studies Public Union , the International Eurasia Press Fund and the Press Council of Azerbaijan for his services in disseminating objective information. The event was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Cosgun, MPs and public figures.
In 2013, the IEPF continued its efforts not only in the region but also in Near and Central Asia and Eastern Europe to strengthen free speech and press, increase journalistic professionalism, ensure freedom of expression, and increase the theoretical and technical capacity of the global media network.
To this end, as Chairman of the International Eurasia Press Fund and a member of the Board of the International Press Institute (IPI), in May 2013 he participated in the World Congress of the International Press Institute in Amman, Jordan. The congress discussed the state of the media in the world, the IPI's development strategy, goals and mission. In October of the same year, the chairman of the IEPF attended a meeting of the Board of the IPI, a global media network, in Vienna, Austria. During the Board meeting, achievements in the field of press freedom in 2013, strategic document on IPI membership, IPI media freedom strategy and priorities for 2014, IPI World Congress 2014, innovative news platform and other issues were discussed.
The IPI Baku Regional Initiative Center, headquartered at the IEPF Baku headquarters, has made it a priority to promote freedom of expression, journalistic professionalism, and greater media development in the region by coordinating National Committees.
The IEPF continues its advocacy work for Azerbaijani journalists in cooperation with the IPI. The IPI's website contains a number of statements reflecting the state of the media in Azerbaijan, each of which has always been open about the right of all IEPF journalists to freedom of expression. The IPI Secretariat continues to work with the IEPF to monitor the media situation in Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Azerbaijan.
The IEPF continued to work with national and international media organizations to implement media reforms in Azerbaijan. Such reforms have been carried out in the areas of decriminalization of defamation (with the Press Council of Azerbaijan and the OSCE), the development of new behavior and journalistic ethics. To this end, the statements of the Executive Director of the IPI on the release of journalists and the legalization of the abolition of defamation were made public.
Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Socio-Economic Council:
In 2013, supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Azerbaijan and the region was the main priority of the IEPF. In March, the IEPF and the Northern Alliance for International Cooperation (NAİC) discussed the overlapping interests in sustainable development and decided to work with ANPED to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. Then, representatives of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), participating in the 65th session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, met with UN strategic agencies, media groups in Geneva, as well as representatives of the Foundation's partners and member networks. The leadership of C-Media, the Executive Director of the Northern Alliance for Sustainable Development, and the UNDP Regional Coordinator for Partnership, Environment and Health also had useful talks.
The IEPF has made the promotion of Sustainable Development Goals in Azerbaijan, Central Asia and the Caucasus a priority. The level of representation of these regions in the discussion of the Sustainable Development Goals is still insufficient. To this end, the organization has led national and regional NGOs in Azerbaijan and other post-Soviet areas to promote the Millennium Development Goals; In this regard, the IEPF's international event on "Sustainable Development after 2015: Green Economy" jointly with ANPED in June was important in terms of bringing together more than 20 civil society organizations from 10 post-Soviet countries. The IEPF continued its participation in high-level events in 2013 to contribute to the establishment of a regional platform for civil society organizations on the sustainable development process in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
On September 23-26, 2013, Umud Rahimoglu, Chairman of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), attended the UN Commission on Sustainable Development's session on "Forward - High Level Political Forum" in New York. participated in intergovernmental processes at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, along with members of key civil society groups representing the state, as well as UN missions, intergovernmental organizations, international organizations, national and local NGOs.
The IEPF has played an active role in the preparation of the final document submitted for admission to the High-Level Political Forum, which reflects the social, economic and environmental aspects. In addition, representatives of the International Eurasia Press Fund attended a high-level meeting on the main goals of sustainable development in the interests of people with disabilities.
participated in discussions with all organizations and stakeholders involved in the problem of disability and the development of people with disabilities. Later
IEPF representatives attended the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reception hosted by UN Under-Secretary-General Jan Ellison, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-founder Melinda Gates, public figure and economist, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, Erickson. ”CEO, some philanthropists, academics and civil society representatives.
The IEPF, which is constantly expanding its capacity and successfully representing the region, applied for reclassification of its consultant status in order to expand the ECOSOC brand in Eurasia and Central Asia at the end of the year. The renewal of its status will give the IEPF a wider impact through its contribution to UN resolutions. The IEPF also intends to use its new status as a mandate to mobilize other NGOs and civil society organizations in the region for more active participation in the UN Strategic Plan.
B. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
In 2013, the IEPF also focused on community development, the study of the needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as the establishment of post-conflict war-affected communities. For more than 20 years, the IEPF has worked with the Government of Azerbaijan, UNCHR, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, the US State Department, UN agencies, Counterpart International, OXFAM, the Japanese Embassy in Azerbaijan, USAID and other partners to implement reconstruction projects. is active in the process of reintegration of affected communities into society.
In 2013, the IEPF, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, supported local civil society organizations, refugee and IDP families, women whose spouses migrated and had to support their families, victims of gender-based violence, and people in need of legal advice. Launched the project "Strengthening the capacity of local civil society and community-based organizations to deal with the reintegration of IDPs" with the financial support of the Bureau of Internally Displaced Persons and Migration of the State Department. The one-year project is expected to be completed in September 2014. By supporting the IEPF in its activities, the IOM has undertaken the mission of organizing the work of legal advice centers, building the capacity of partner community-based organizations, and assisting.
The project is implemented with the direct support of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republican Commission for International Humanitarian Aid and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It is no coincidence that in connection with the launch of the project, the Republican Commission for International Humanitarian Aid sent a letter of support to the executive authorities of the regions where the project is implemented, and UNHCR undertook external monitoring of the project.
Within the framework of the project, 4,000 surveys (about 1,000 in each region) were conducted as part of surveys covering refugee and IDP settlements and other settlements in Agdam, Agjabadi, Barda and Beylagan districts, studying the demographic and socio-economic situation of refugees and IDPs in these regions. methodological aids have been developed. During the surveys, efforts were made to have one person from each family participate in the survey, so that the IEPF tried to make the survey results more effective, to expand the scope of the survey, and ultimately to obtain richer information.
UNICEF: Azerbaijan Youth Support Program
On December 20, 2013, the IEPF launched the Azerbaijan Youth Support Project “Youth in Action” as a continuation of the “Azerbaijan Youth Support Program” (AGDP) project under a cooperation agreement with UNICEF. Under the agreement, both parties formalized the implementation of the project and announced their intention to implement the project from the first month of next year. Support for Azerbaijani Youth The “Youth in Action” project is a logical continuation of the “Azerbaijan Youth Support Program” project implemented in 2012 and is a developed model. The target areas of the new project covered 14 new districts (Goygol, Naftalan, Ganja, Mingachevir, Fuzuli, Khojavend, Agdash, Ujar, Lachin, Zardab, Imishli, Saatli, Kurdamir and Shirvann) and extended the scope of the AGDP project to 21 districts. Thus, a new model project in the field of youth assistance, implemented in cooperation with the IEPF and UNICEF, was developed and recommended for replication in other regions.
Training and Regional Initiatives
In 2013, support for regional initiatives, trainings and seminars on various topics, as well as community-based work were the main activities of the IEPF.
The International Eurasia Press Fund , at the initiative of the Baku Office of the UN Department of Public Information, organized a "Let's Say No to Domestic Violence" on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8 at the IEPF Regional Vocational Training Center in Tartar. held an event called. Citizens, educators, doctors, district police officers, housewives, and community activists, most of whom were women from villages and settlements in the Tartar region, were encouraged to engage in nonviolent violence. During the event, the organizations mainly supported awareness-raising activities on sensitive issues such as early marriage and domestic violence.
In May 2013, the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), the United Nations Development Program and the International Organization for Migration (IOMF) organized a regional conference in Barda and Tartar to discuss post-2015 development, migration and human trafficking issues under the Millennium Development Goals. meeting was held. Along with Barda and Tartar districts, the meeting was attended by heads of executive bodies, representatives of law enforcement agencies, youth and sports departments, local self-government bodies from Agjabadi, Yevlakh, Agdam, Goranboy districts. The meetings focused on migration and human trafficking. The participants approached the issues of migration from both the global and Azerbaijani contexts, expressed their views on the current situation and the work that needs to be done on migration and human trafficking after 2015, and made suggestions.
On April 4, 2013, International Mine Action Day, the IEPF, in partnership with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI), planted 1,400 trees in an IDP settlement in the Barda region of Azerbaijan. The project, funded by the non-bank credit organization FINCA Azerbaijan, is symbolic and aims to encourage IDPs to be more environmentally sensitive and replace destroyed trees with new ones. Barda region is the region most densely populated by IDPs. The Azerbaijani government has also built several settlements in the region to reintegrate IDPs. The main reason for the IEPF's "Plant a Tree to Support the Development of Our New Settlements" initiative was to contribute to the environment by planting evergreen trees planted by mine-affected areas in IDP settlements. The main idea was to inspire IDPs to permanent reintegration, rather than instilling a sense of ownership and forgetting the temporary occupation.
In general, IEPF and its partners at various times in 2013 conducted trainings for journalists and NGO representatives on victims of human trafficking, Leadership and Communication, Leadership and Communication, Youth - The World We Want, Safety Rules in Journalism, Mine Awareness Awareness ”and a number of other trainings and public campaigns.
3. Micro-credit: Small and medium-sized businesses
Eurasia Credit, a non-bank credit organization established by the IEPF on the basis of the priorities of the Republican Commission for International Humanitarian Aid, mainly to serve the communities inhabited mainly by IDPs and war victims in general, continued to expand its activities. In 2013, capital inflows from various financial sources enabled Eurasia Credit to meet the needs of its target groups more comprehensively. As of the end of 2013, Eurasia Credit has a financial portfolio of AZN 2,042,925 benefiting 3,627 customers.
In 2010-2011, the Ford Fund and CGAP awarded the MIC Silver Certificate for the “Social Performance Report”, and in 2012, the Eurasian Microfinance Association received a special award from the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association as the “Best Social Mission Member”. Credit ”was awarded a special prize by AMFA in the nomination“ Sharing Experiences on Universal Standards in Social Activity Management in 2013 ”.
NBCI, the US Department of State, the International Eurasia Press Fund and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) By joining the Islamic Development Bank's Strengthening Women Entrepreneurs Support Project in Azerbaijan, she remained committed to her social goals in 2013.
C. ISSUES OF REFUGEES AND IDPs
1. IDP Residence Activities and UNCHR Working Group
The IEPF is part of the UNHCR Working Group on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. In this group, the IEPF demonstrated its support at the level of vocational training and micro-credit programs for the livelihoods of IDPs. Through an initial assessment of the needs of IDPs under the program, the IEPF identified IDPs in need of skills development and individuals who could change their living conditions for the better if they were provided with these skills. Selected IDPs were trained in their professional skills using a curriculum developed for their purpose. In 2013, the IEPF continued special training on carpet weaving, computer, advertising design, agricultural practice and baking for war victims and IDPs to improve the living conditions of IDPs and improve their professional skills, free of charge to increase their children's computer skills. continued computer classes. In 2013 alone, more than 350 IDP children acquired relevant knowledge in the field of internet and computers. In 2013, the IEPF, with the support of the US Department of State's Office of Population and Migration, launched a project called "Capacity Building for Local Civil Society and Community-Based Organizations to Reintegrate Internally Displaced Persons" in line with UNCHR's priorities. has taken an important step towards improving the socio-economic situation of refugees and internally displaced persons and strengthening integrative processes.
As every year, the IEPF celebrated the Day of Internally Displaced Persons on June 20 as part of an event organized by the Republican Commission for Humanitarian Aid of the Republic of Azerbaijan in accordance with UNCHR priorities. In addition, he organized various charity concerts to improve the moral and psychological condition of IDPs.
Working with IDPs from Azerbaijan, as well as refugees and asylum seekers, the IEPF cooperates with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Council of Europe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (ECRE).
2. ECRE dialogue on emerging asylum and migration
Representatives of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) participated in the "Dialogue on Emerging Migration and Asylum", which was attended by intergovernmental members of the Council of Europe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (ECRE), as well as international NGOs and a number of European Union (EU) agencies. joined the platform adopted at the meeting. The meeting discussed the role of NGOs in solving the problems of long-term refugees and IDPs. The IEPF representative informed the participants about the position of Azerbaijani NGOs and the measures taken by the Azerbaijani government to improve the living conditions of thousands of IDPs in the country.
The meeting was attended by ECRE, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the European Commission's Department for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Defense, as well as the Diaspora Forum for Development, the Red Cross, the Refugee Campaign and a number of diasporas. “It was very useful to draw attention to the experience gained about the contributions of various executors dealing with refugees and IDPs. During the event, it was noted that the practice of mutual cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan and civil society organizations to find a global solution to the problems of IDPs is constantly expanding. In addition, countries were urged to pay close attention to the agreed conventions and resolutions of international organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations.
It should be noted that the IEPF has been a member of ECRE since 2007 and currently includes 76 NGOs from 30 countries. The IEPF, a member of the UN NGO Division (ECOSOC) with the status of Special Adviser, has the authority to prepare and submit various documents to be considered at high-level ECRE events and other relevant sessions.
D. PEACE BUILDING AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS
The IEPF Community Mine Action Team continued mine action in the Goygol, Goranboy and Tartar regions of Azerbaijan. During mine clearance operations in 2013, a total of 6,178,617 square meters were cleared, revealing 34 mines and unexploded ordnance.
The IEPF's demining operation is directly coordinated and monitored by the National Agency for Mine Action of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA). The mission of the clearing team includes demining tasks to the extent that it will help the population return to their homeland, as well as the socio-economic development of the region.
In 2013, IMAC staff members participated in the New Generation, Assessment and Team Leadership Training of the Information Management System organized by ANAMA and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The trainings covered new areas of hazardous area measurement, digital measurement, coordinate system, IMAS. A team of 20 delegates from Iraq, Jordan, the United States, Angola, Guatemala, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Libya, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and Uganda participated in an interactive workshop on geodetic measurements organized by the ANAMA Information Department in July. meeting of members was held. During the meeting, they exchanged views on measurement operations, field mapping, DGPS measurements, etc.
As always, in 2013, the IEPF conducted mine risk education (MRE) trainings. MTC specialists conducted awareness-raising activities in more than 20 villages of Tartar and Goranboy. During the MTC, 120 mines and unexploded ordnance were found and neutralized at the request of the communities. The Azerbaijan Mine Action Association (AMZA), an organization established by the IEPF for mine victims in Azerbaijan, continued to assist its members in 2013. More than 20 landmine victims received legal, medical, and financial assistance. Worked on the rehabilitation of disabled children and their families. AMZA executors made several visits to the regions where the active departments are located, as well as propaganda meetings were held in Tartar. The activities of the farm established under the Vocational Training Center have been further strengthened, and the opportunities for war victims to benefit have been further increased. Currently, as a result of the work of the IEPF, more than 50 mine victims or their families are benefiting.
E. VOLUNTEER
IEPF is open to volunteers who want to gain experience in the organization's activities. In 2013, several people volunteered at various IEPF departments. IEPF staff were involved in several potential development-oriented trainings for volunteers.
A group of volunteers, mainly students from Baku Slavic University, joined the ongoing projects and conducted research to increase their practical knowledge and skills. In addition, Lee Maddox, an American Peace Corps Volunteer, assists the IEPF Vocational Training Center in promoting business activities, developing Internet use and language skills for low-income children, as well as successful stories about mine victims, and media reports on regional and national values. published. In 2013, volunteering was carried out more closely with the Baku International Student Club, which is registered as a national NGO in Azerbaijan, and a number of events were held to explore opportunities for international cooperation.