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Campaign on gender-based violence launched in Azerbaijan

21 November 2016 11:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Farid Mirzayev – APA. A conference to launch the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign was held in Baku Nov. 21.

The conference was co-organized by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, UN Population Fund, United Nations Development Programme, USAID, EU Delegation in Azerbaijan and other agencies.

Addressing the event, Hijran Huseynova, Chairwoman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, stated that monitoring groups comprising representatives of local authorities were created at all executive powers against gender-based violence and violence against children.

She noted that violence against women is observed not only in Azerbaijan, but also in other countries.

“A lot is being done to prevent violence against women in Azerbaijan. A number of important measures, including legislative reforms are carried out in this regard. Recent researches show that significant progress has been made in this direction,” added Huseynova.

UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Ghulam Isaczai stressed the importance of cooperation between government agencies and international development agencies to end violence against women.

In her speech, Bahar Muradova, Vice-Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, noted that Azerbaijan must further improve the legal framework for the prevention of violence against women.

Mubariz Gurbanli, Chairman of State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, said women are facing violence not only in Azerbaijan, but also in other countries.

“There are still facts of sexual, physical and psychological violence against women all around the world. Women’s right to education and independence must be ensured to prevent such cases,” he added.

Malena Mard, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, noted that the EU attaches great importance to this issue and take a very strong position.

“Violence against women occurs in every country of the world. All violence against women must be eliminated”, she added.

At the end, the winners of the contest “The best audio-scenario for social media” announced by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, ASAN radio and the UN Population Fund were awarded.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign which takes place each year and runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).