The opening ceremony of the 2nd International Youth Forum on Multiculturalism, jointly organized by the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre and ICESCO under the theme “Youth as Ambassadors of Peacebuilding in a Multicultural Environment”, has taken place.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, emphasized that Azerbaijan has historically been a land where various cultures, languages, and religions have coexisted. He noted that the multiculturalism policy founded by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and successfully continued today by President Ilham Aliyev has turned Azerbaijan into a global model of intercultural dialogue, tolerance, and traditions of coexistence.
Mr. Hasanov underlined that dedicating the Forum to the theme “Youth as Ambassadors of Peacebuilding in a Multicultural Environment” was no coincidence, since the role of youth in ensuring peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding in today’s world is of decisive importance. “Young people are not only the future but also the driving force of today. The communication bridges they build form the foundation of trust and cooperation between nations. I am confident that the discussions, exchanges of views, and joint action plans within the Forum will open up new opportunities both for Azerbaijani youth and young participants from other countries. The friendships and partnerships formed here will make an important contribution to the promotion of peace and multicultural values globally, and the experience and bonds you gain at this Forum will leave a lasting mark on your future lives,” he noted.
Dr. Dinara Guliyeva, on behalf of the Director of Social and Human Sciences Sector of ICESCO, stressed that This forum stands as another milestone reached in the fruitful partnership between ICESCO and the Republic of Azerbaijan. A collaboration built on shared values and common vision, which acknowledges youth as the front runner to peacebuilding and recognizes multiculturalism as a key factor to peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. 
Dr Dinara, Head of Human Development Division/SHS further stated that  “at ICESCO, we believe that youth are the driving force of this process. Through education, culture, science, and creativity, they build new bridges and foster a climate of trust between nations and cultures. In this regard, holding such a Forum in Azerbaijan, a country that preserves and promotes multicultural values, is of special significance,” she emphasized.

Other speakers, including Dr. Namira Negm, Director of the African Migration Observatory (AMO) of the African Union, and Mr. Noufal Abboud, Director of the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation (NCCT), highlighted the importance of the Forum as a key platform for international youth cooperation. They underlined that the discussions held here would pave the way for new ideas and initiatives, supporting youth engagement in peacebuilding and the promotion of intercultural dialogue, thus contributing to the strengthening of a culture of peaceful coexistence on a global scale.
Following the opening ceremony, a workshop titled “The Power of Diversity: Youth as a Driving Force for Peace and Understanding” was held under the guidance of ICESCO and its Regional Office in Baku   in partnership with the African Migration Observatory of the African Union and the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation. The workshop addressed the role of cultural and identity diversity in peacebuilding processes and stressed the importance of youth participation as a driving force in this regard.
It should be noted that the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, along with ICESCO, organized the 2nd International Youth Forum on Multiculturalism. Dedicated to the theme “Youth as Ambassadors of Peacebuilding in a Multicultural Environment”, the aim of the Forum is to bring together young people from different countries to promote multicultural values, foster intercultural dialogue, and strengthen interfaith understanding. Nearly 70 participants from more than 50 countries have joined the Forum. The Forum is being held in Baku, Khankendi, and Shusha. Within the framework of the Forum, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and training programs are planned. Moreover, participants will get acquainted with the state of cultural heritage and reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated historical lands.
It should be recalled that the 1st International Youth Forum on Multiculturalism was held in 2019 within the framework of the 9th International Summer School on Multiculturalism, themed “Baku Intercultural Youth Forum: From Interfaith Dialogue to Action”.