A Better World Volume 1

[

] 75

One of the today’s important tasks is the elimination of

gender-based violence. Special monitoring groups on gender-

based violence and violence against children were established

in the country with the participation of different state organiza-

tions (the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the

Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of

Labour and Social Protection of Population, and the Azerbaijan

Attorney General) and executive powers. As an effective moni-

toring mechanism, these local monitoring groups examine the

situation and the effectiveness of the implemented measures

in places, determine the families at risk and provide support

for them, analyse the causes of violence, provide protection

for the victims of violence and ensure appropriate assistance

to carry out such functions as coordination of gender-based

violence prevention and response efforts among different state

institutions. To improve the collection, analysis and use of data

and research to enhance gender-based violence prevention, the

Government of Azerbaijan has already started the establishment

of a countrywide online database on violence against women.

Roundtables, specific television programmes and newspaper

supplements with the aim of awareness-raising campaigns are

conducted on a regular basis. Consequently the number of

domestic crimes decreased from 1,543 to 867 during the period

2009-2015, and the number of registered crimes on violence

against women decreased from 4,696 in 2009 to 2,248 in 2015.

Azerbaijan women are represented in all spheres of our

society. The Government has taken concrete measures to

challenge prevalent stereotypes and to encourage women

to participate actively in political and public life, especially

in the regions and rural areas. In combating stereotypes we

start preventative work from an early age. Awareness-raising

campaigns help younger generations to choose the correct

orientation in life. With this goal, every two years we conduct

an All-Republican Forum of Children-Leaders. Girls, jointly

with state officials and members of parliament, analyse and

express opinions on challenges they encounter and try to find

ways to solve them.

National congresses of Azerbaijan women have also been

very important in demonstrating the potential of women

and their ability to make changes in society. In 2013, 2,000

women representing all regions of Azerbaijan participated

at the Fourth Congress under the motto ‘Unity for devel-

opment’. Women are very active in political and public

organizations. For example 46 per cent of the members

of the Leading New Azerbaijan Party are women. There is

special Women’s Council of the political parties which posi-

tively influences enhancement of the role of women in the

political life of the country.

By implementing projects on the participation of women in

politics, including ‘Women Leadership in Self-Governance’,

the Government tries to encourage women’s participa-

tion in political process and increase their representation

during elections. As a result significant progress has been

achieved at the municipal level. Thus, the representation

of women at municipal level has increased from 4 per cent

in the municipal election of 2004 to 26.5 per cent in the

election of 2009 and 35 per cent in the elections of 2014.

The use of the administrative reform that appoints, at each

regional-administrative level, a woman deputy to the gover-

nor, and the training of these future women leaders in the

administration of the state, creates a very important oppor-

tunity for women to play a major role in the development

of the country, especially in its social policy. The number of

woman deputy heads of executive powers increased from 35

to 78 and one woman was appointed to the position of head

of executive power in recent years.

The women of Azerbaijan still face a number of challenges.

The occupation of the historical territories of Azerbaijan by

Armenia and the continuation of aggression is one of the

main obstacles to development. As a result of the Nagorno-

Karabakh conflict, more than a million people became

refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), over half

of whom are children and women (156,000 women refugees

and 297,731 IDPs). A great effort is being carried out today

for their reintegration into society. The state of Azerbaijan

does its best in order to provide these women with deserved

education, medical insurance and normal living standards.

Today Azerbaijani women are active players in construc-

tive processes going on in the country. Mehriban Aliyeva, the

First Lady of Azerbaijan, the president of the Heydar Aliyev

Foundation and goodwill ambassador of the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the

Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,

has made great efforts in raising and solving the problems

of Azerbaijani women. Being a professional politician and

humanist, focusing on the promotion of national values and

culture, and showing great efforts in raising social problems

to a worldwide scale, Mehriban Aliyeva is a great example for

local women as well as those worldwide.

We can state that a gender culture is closely bound with

the development of our country. Placing the needs of

women at the heart of policymaking and public services

delivery, the Government underlines its commitment to

strengthening the foundations of a society where women

can access and benefit from opportunities on an equal

footing with men.

Azerbaijan’s Under-19 women’s football team: today Azerbaijani women are

active players in constructive processes in the country

Image: State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan

ender

quality

and

omen

’

mpowerment