The Azerbaijan Democracy and Development Association (ODJAQ), which completed its formal establishment in 2023, was founded through the collective will of a broad spectrum of political and civil society activists, including graduates of leading international universities, experienced advocates, women’s rights activists, and young people dedicated to democratic progress.

Established in 2023, the Azerbaijan Democracy and Development Association is an independent, socio-political organization founded through the collective will of a diverse group of political and civil society activists. Its members include graduates of leading international universities, experienced human rights defenders, women’s rights advocates, and young activists committed to democratic and developmental values.

The Association’s mission is to foster awareness and promote a culture that institutionalizes development-oriented and democratic thinking. It focuses on addressing the contemporary social challenges of Iran and Azerbaijan and examining the underlying causes of societal underdevelopment. While the national question of Azerbaijan and the Turkic peoples of Iran remains central to its agenda, the Association also engages deeply with broader social, political, and cultural issues across the country.

The Azerbaijan Democracy and Development Association (ODJAQ) believes that the barriers to democracy and progress in Azerbaijan extend beyond national oppression or linguistic and cultural discrimination. These challenges, it contends, can only be effectively resolved within the wider context of Iran and the region. Owing to its historical legacy and influential role, from the Constitutional Revolution to the present day, Azerbaijan holds exceptional potential to contribute democratic and inclusive solutions to Iran’s national questions.

Since the advent of modernity in Iran, Azerbaijan has been a cradle of pluralistic, decentralized, and multicultural progress. By consistently challenging centralized authoritarianism and mono-identity dominance, it has played a guiding role in revealing and confronting totalitarian tendencies. Despite its century-long history, the Azerbaijani model continues to represent one of the most viable and least costly paths toward building a modern, democratic, and pluralistic Iran. The Azerbaijani movement is further distinguished by its civil, nonviolent nature and the broad public acceptance of its historically developed mechanisms.

The Association firmly believes that sustainable democracy and balanced development in Iran cannot be achieved without addressing the national question through democratic and inclusive approaches. A genuine democratic discourse must transcend totalitarian and exclusivist rhetoric, recognizing the complexities of national and social identities. It requires constructive dialogue and cooperation among all strata of Iranian society across ethnic, gender, religious, class, and generational lines to overcome developmental obstacles.

To this end, the Azerbaijan Democracy and Development Association (ODJAQ) brings together activists and representatives of diverse social, gender, and ethnic identities. It also seeks collaboration with democratic forces throughout Iran to promote democratization and development within a framework of interethnic friendship, mutual respect, rational engagement, and nonviolence. The Center’s approach to tensions within Iran and beyond is grounded in reason, inclusivity, and the recognition of all identities, acknowledging their intersectional interconnections.

The Azerbaijan Democracy and Development Association (ODJAQ) operates independently, without reliance on governmental or institutional support, and adheres strictly to the principles of human rights and international conventions. It is unaffiliated with any governmental body inside or outside Iran. Organizationally, the Association maintains a democratic and transparent structure, with its goals, principles, and programs clearly outlined in its charter.

We believe that peaceful coexistence among nations, founded on mutual respect, is essential for achieving democracy, development, and a dignified standing in the international community. Accordingly, we invite all pro-democracy advocates in Azerbaijan and across Iran, as well as activists from all sectors, to join the Azerbaijan Democracy and Development Association (ODJAQ) in pursuit of collaboration and coalition-building for a democratic and prosperous future.