March 10, 2026
The First Forum of Azerbaijani Women in America has been held in Alexandria, Virginia, organized by the Azerbaijani Women of America organization with the support of the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The forum, which took place on the eve of International Women’s Day, brought together Azerbaijani women living across various U.S. states, leaders of member organizations of the Azerbaijani-American Organizations Association, the head of the Azerbaijan House of Canada, Brazilian journalists, representatives of diplomatic missions in the U.S. from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Senegal, Singapore, Djibouti, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as community leaders.
The event featured extensive discussions on strengthening women’s leadership potential, preserving cultural identity, fostering intercommunity dialogue, and expanding professional collaboration opportunities through modern digital platforms. Participants exchanged ideas, experiences, and innovative perspectives while emphasizing the importance of building a strong network within the diaspora.
Lala Ragimov, head of the Azerbaijani Women of America Association, noted that the forum aims to create a strong support platform for Azerbaijani women in the U.S. and representatives of other communities, enhance leadership skills, expand mentorship opportunities, and build deeper connections among communities. She also emphasized that the forum would inspire the younger generation and encourage their social and professional engagement.
Speaking at the event, Selhət Abbasova, Head of Department at the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora, highlighted the rich and proud history of Azerbaijani women’s development. She noted that Azerbaijani women stand among successful examples of female leadership worldwide and play active roles in public administration and humanitarian diplomacy.
She also stressed that women have historically played an invaluable role in building peace, stability, and a secure future. According to her, such platforms create opportunities for women to participate more actively in these processes while strengthening their role in preserving and passing on family and national values to future generations. In today’s world of increasing global challenges and conflicts, initiatives like this are essential for enhancing dialogue, mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation among peoples and communities.
Participants united around a shared vision emphasized in their speeches:
“By bringing together successful professionals, emerging leaders, and community representatives from various fields, this important initiative—promoting professional excellence and intergenerational leadership—has been built step by step with great enthusiasm and dedication. We believe this initiative will foster the professional development of Azerbaijani women in the United States, create new opportunities for collaboration within the community, and contribute to the future of the Azerbaijani diaspora. This is not only a diaspora event but also an international platform that unites diverse cultures and communities.”
As part of the forum, panel discussions were held on leadership, cultural identity, intercommunity dialogue, women’s professional development, and networking. Professionals from different sectors shared their experiences and ideas, presenting business examples and creative works. Community leaders and young diaspora representatives also proposed new initiatives to increase women’s active participation in public life.
At the conclusion of the event, the establishment of a mentorship program for women was announced. Organizers stated that the forum will continue in the future, with the goal of transforming it into a long-term international platform for women’s leadership, innovation, and intercommunity cooperation, while also strengthening the engagement of Azerbaijani women in the U.S. and enriching Azerbaijani-American diaspora relations.
It should be noted that in recent years, the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora has organized forums for scientists, doctors, engineers, and students living abroad. These initiatives help create unified platforms for professionals in the same fields and encourage diaspora members to contribute jointly to the development of both their countries of residence and Azerbaijan.
