Baku's Trust Walk: UN Day Celebration Focused on Diversity, Inclusion, and Trust

This year's UN Day in Baku, Azerbaijan, was a celebration of diversity, inclusion, and the unwavering belief in being able to build a better world together based on trust and leaving no one behind.

On October 28, at the UN Resident Coordinator Office initiative, representatives of UN agencies, state institutions, diplomatic missions, and volunteers gathered in Baku Boulevard to participate in the Trust Walk event. Among them were around 60 people with disabilities - Paralympic champions, musicians, and disability activists – whose strengths resonated beyond the visible. And together, they represented the essence of the Trust Walk and the principles of the UN Charter.

The Trust Walk emphasized the importance of inclusion and equality in society. It brought together institutions and individuals working to build an inclusive and equal society: the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Youth Foundation, the DOST Center for Inclusive Development and Creativity, and the YARAT Contemporary Art Space.

During the walk, volunteers and participants accompanied people with disabilities, and trust was the essential feeling that took the participants to the destination.

“Through this Trust Walk, we intend to show that together, we can make positive changes, and our differences make us stronger as a whole,” said Vladanka Andreeva, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan.  

Emphasizing the principles of the 78-year-old UN Charter, Vladanka Andreeva said that peace, sustainable development, and human rights for all – are critical principles for the United Nations activity in every corner of the world: “With this Trust Walk event – together with our partners, including people with disabilities – we want UN Day to be about what each of us is going to do to fulfill the global promise of leaving no one behind.”

The Trust Walk was followed by the music performances of disabled people who were beneficiaries of the DOST Center for Inclusive Development and Creativity. The performance demonstrated the power of inclusion and the boundless creativity that knows no physical or sensory limitations.

 

Sahil Babayev, Minister of Labor and Social Protection, who joined the Trust Walk, said that the government implements different programs to support the integration of people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities who successfully performed at this event once again confirm that disability is not a limitation to engage in creativity, create, and achieve success,” the Minister emphasized.

An inspirational speech by Jamila Mammadova, a disability activist in a wheelchair and a spirited young woman passionate about breaking barriers, represented the essence of building trust for an inclusive society by leaving no one behind. Jamila is a writer, translator, and author of several books who believes inclusivity breaks down barriers.

“Integrating people with disabilities into society can be achieved in inclusive environments. It is essential for people with disabilities to live and work in the same environment as others,” Jamila said.

The Trust Walk was not just an event that facilitated walking and listening to music performances together; it was a journey into the minds and feelings of participants; it was the epitome of positive change, inclusiveness, and trust - a collective stride towards a more sustainable society that upholds the UN's #leavenoonebehind global promise. It is also the UN's and its partners' promise to build a world where support for diversity, inclusion, and trust are the cornerstones.