Azerbaijani first lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva has addressed Plenary Session 2 “Good Practices in Social Inclusion” of the 7th Global Forum of the United National Alliance of Civilizations. Mehriban Aliyeva said it was a great honor for Azerbaijan to host the event. She expressed her confidence that the forum would contribute to the development of constructive dialogue and enrichment of civilizations.

In her speech, the first lady highlighted a number of issues, including migration, urbanization, climate change, and youth unemployment.

She also drew the audience`s attention to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, an provided an insight into what the Azerbaijani government had been doing to provide better living conditions for refugees and IDPs.

Mehriban Aliyeva also highlighted the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The areas of discussion at the Plenary Session were What are the areas of inclusion/excluded groups that impact on peace, human rights and

development?; What are some of the challenges of defining a good practice in inclusion, and how can this challenge be overcome?; How do we exchange know-how, expertise and good practices between local authorities at a transnational level on successful implementation of concrete local action to promote social inclusion?

Other speakers included Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, Letizia Moratti, Co-Founder and Representative of the Community of San Patrignano, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Giampaolo Pioli, President, United Nations Correspondents Association.