Vafaddin Ibayev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Law and Human Rights and PhD in Law, represented the Institute online at the 5th Human Rights Forum held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 28–29 September.

Speaking at the Forum, V. Ibayev spoke about the importance of ensuring human rights and freedoms, and particularly the right to development. He noted that people are the main asset of every state and that the primary objective of development policy should be to improve people's quality of life, expand their opportunities, and develop their capabilities.

In his address, he drew attention to Azerbaijan's human development policies, highlighting efforts in education, healthcare, social protection, and decent work. In particular, he noted the contribution of the State Program, which provides young people with opportunities to study at prestigious higher education institutions abroad to the development of human capital.

V. Ibayev stated that sustainable development should not be limited to economic growth alone but must be accompanied by ensuring social welfare, equality, human rights, and security.

At the end of his speech, he emphasized the important role of international cooperation in ensuring human rights and the right to development. It was noted that Azerbaijan supports the preservation of peace, justice, and the territorial integrity of states, and that the peaceful resolution of conflicts is one of the fundamental conditions for ensuring human rights.