Refugees and internally displaced people have now become one of the primary concerns of global policy making. Armed conflicts and political instabilities are the key reasons for displacement of millions across the world. Latest figures of the United Nations indicate that there are around 15 million refugees and 38 million Internal Displaced Peoples (IDPs) that are in need of shelter, food, security and other basic needs.  These numbers keep rising as the world witness increased violence and conflict in different regions of the globe. Since 2011 as a result of ongoing civil war in Syria, around 4 million people are expelled from their homes and 2 million of them are now sheltered in Turkey. (Haldun Yavaş) A short while ago, the world confronted this photograph…with this truth…Refugees… But, the truth was always there.

1. www.hazar.org
H A L D U N Y A V A Ş
HALDUN YAVAŞ
THE SOLUTION FOR THE REFUGEE CRISIS:
EMPOWERING WOMEN

2. HALDUN YAVAŞ
THE SOLUTION FOR THE REFUGEE CRISIS:
EMPOWERING WOMEN
C A S P I A N S T R A T E G Y
I N S T I T U T E ( H A S E N )
w w w . h a z a r . o r g
Refugees and internally displaced people have now become one of the primary
concerns of global policy making. Armed conflicts and political instabilities are the
key reasons for displacement of millions across the world. Latest figures of the
United Nations indicate that there are around 15 million refugees and 38
million Internal Displaced Peoples (IDPs) that are in need of shelter, food, security
and other basic needs. These numbers keep rising as the world witness increased
violence and conflict in different regions of the globe. Since 2011 as a result of
ongoing civil war in Syria, around 4 million people are expelled from their homes and
2 million of them are now sheltered in Turkey. (Haldun Yavaş)
A short while ago, the world confronted this photograph…with this
truth…Refugees… But, the truth was always there.

3. HALDUN YAVAŞ
THE SOLUTION FOR THE REFUGEE CRISIS:
EMPOWERING WOMEN
C A S P I A N S T R A T E G Y
I N S T I T U T E ( H A S E N )
w w w . h a z a r . o r g
So, who are striving to change those tragedies?
International organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), Red Cross and Red Crescent have taken commendable efforts to overcome
repercussions of the global refugee problem but most of the burden still lay on the shoulders of
countries and neighboring states that are affected from calamities of the refugee crisis.
Unfortunately most of these countries are underdeveloped and lack the capacity and necessary
financial resources to handle resettlement, security and rehabilitation of refugees and IDPs.
Well-coordinated international initiative is required to deal with refugee and IDP issues with the
participation of state and non-state international actors. Non-government organizations can play an
important part in this regard. (Haldun Yavaş)
And there are people who are still waiting for some attention from the world. They are from
territories of Azerbaijan, – Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 adjacent districts that are under Armenian
occupation. For those people, the tragedy continues with border conflicts in the region.

4. HALDUN YAVAŞ
THE SOLUTION FOR THE REFUGEE CRISIS:
EMPOWERING WOMEN
C A S P I A N S T R A T E G Y
I N S T I T U T E ( H A S E N )
w w w . h a z a r . o r g
The number of IDPs from occupied territories of Azerbaijan is around one million and
Azerbaijani IDP women represent the most vulnerable group of all IDPs. Their ability to
independently pursue livelihoods and economic activities is affected by the displacement.
As Caspian Strategy Institute we chose 12 th century Azerbaijani poet Nizami Gencevi’s
speech and made his speech a motto: We smile when women smile
And as Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN) we have developed a model project called
“Empowering Women: Azerbaijani IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh” within the Clinton Global
Initiative, designed to facilitate the economic integration of 40 Azerbaijani IDP women into
society by offering an intensive vocational training program on carpet weaving and tailoring.
According to World Bank statistics, Azerbaijan has spent around $5.4 billion over the last two
decades to improve the living and housing conditions of IDPs. The government has also
taken other measures such as tax privileges, free secondary school textbooks, fuel for
heating, health services, and higher education to improve the economic situation of these
people. (Haldun Yavaş)

5. HALDUN YAVAŞ
THE SOLUTION FOR THE REFUGEE CRISIS:
EMPOWERING WOMEN
C A S P I A N S T R A T E G Y
I N S T I T U T E ( H A S E N )
w w w . h a z a r . o r g
Although these social assistance programs help IDPs in terms of improving their living
conditions, long-term solutions should rely on integrating them into the labor market by
providing necessary training programs and job skills. HASEN believes that “Empowering
Women: Azerbaijani IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh” project is a model project for other
parts of the world that host large numbers of refugees and IDPs. HASEN is committed to do
its part in this regard and calls others to join its cause.
Haldun YAVAŞ