Baku, November 1, AZERTAC

The leaders of women’s organizations from the Black Sea and South Caucasus region have issued a peace appeal to the international community.

The appeal, supported by 35 organizations from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye, Bulgaria, and other countries, reads:

“We, the leaders of women’s organizations from the Black Sea and South Caucasus region, stand united in our commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of human dignity. As representatives of the women in our region, who have been deeply affected by conflict, we raise our voices to call on the international community to take immediate and decisive action to secure lasting peace in our region.

The Black Sea and South Caucasus region, historically marked by serious geopolitical challenges, continues to suffer from ongoing wars that claim tens of thousands of lives and leave millions injured, displaced, or separated from their families. In the current Russia-Ukraine war alone, the cumulative number of civilian and military deaths has surpassed half a million, according to UN data.

In every conflict, women and children bear the heaviest burden, enduring the devastating consequences of war. As the saying goes, when peace is broken in one country, the peace of all countries is at risk. The entire world is grappling with the ripple effects of armed conflicts – refugees, displaced persons, asylum seekers, and stateless individuals who need shelter, support, employment, and integration. Therefore, peace in every country is crucial to the stability of the world. The protection of human rights and human dignity must become a global priority. The international community must unite to provide survivors of these conflicts with essential humanitarian aid, psychological support, and legal protection.

However, we are deeply concerned by the rapid militarization in our region, which poses a significant threat to regional stability and security. The billions spent on military equipment – fueling violence and death – could have been invested in education, healthcare, and sustainable development to ensure a brighter future for the next generation.

As leaders of women’s organizations across the Black Sea and South Caucasus, we recognize our vital role in promoting peace, fostering reconciliation, and supporting development. Historically, women have been at the forefront of peacebuilding efforts, and today we again offer our voices and experience to guide our region toward lasting peace and stability. Women are key agents of change, and their meaningful participation in peacebuilding processes ensures that peace agreements are inclusive, sustainable, and just.

We are ready to lead peace initiatives, working together to heal the wounds of war and prevent future conflicts. We must emphasize the critical importance of peaceful initiatives for the development and well-being of our people. We stand for

We unequivocally support the sovereignty of Azerbaijan and welcome the official dialogue between Baku and Yerevan, which brings the two countries closer to peace and the region one step closer to stability.

We doubtedlessly support Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova in their struggle to restore territorial integrity and re-establish safety within their borders. These countries deserve robust support in their pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity.

Therefore, we call on the international community to prioritize disarmament and to put diplomacy above militarization – both in our region and across the world.

Furthermore, we urge the international community to respect the sovereignty of all states and demonstrate an equal, impartial approach by refraining from one-sided initiatives that may jeopardize the path to peace.

We call for stronger regional ties and the promotion of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding between the countries of the Black Sea and South Caucasus region.

Finally, we appeal to the international community to support women’s organizations across the Black Sea and South Caucasus region and to empower their involvement in all stages of the peacebuilding process—namely, in prevention, participation, protection, relief, and recovery.”