Azerbaijan`s parliament hosts roundtable on “Children`s rights and business principles”
Baku, May 22 (AZERTAC). A roundtable meeting on “Children`s rights and business principles” has today been held in the Azerbaijan parliament, Milli Majlis.
The meeting, co-organized by the Azerbaijan parliament and UNICEF, brought together MPs, representatives of international organizations and local NGOs.
Opening the event, vice-speaker of Milli Majlis Bahar Muradova spoke of the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan to protect children`s rights. She said Azerbaijan closely cooperates with UNICEF to improve relevant legislation. Muradova said every state should respect rights of children and take care of them. According to her, the Azerbaijani parliament supports reforms aimed at strengthening the protection of children`s rights in the country. “There is a modern legal framework for protection of children`s rights in Azerbaijan.”
Muradova pointed out businesses should put more emphasis on elimination of child labor exploitation. She added the state of child labor in Azerbaijan was better than in some developed countries.
Head of the UNICEF office in Baku Mark Hereward said the Azerbaijani government understands the potential of children in development of the country. “That is why the Azerbaijani government has signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by the parliament.” Hereward noted violation of children`s rights could negatively impact society. The head of the UNICEF office emphasized the necessity of increasing the role of businesses in developing strategic programs on the future of children.
Chief of the Milli Majlis committee on economic policy Ziyad Samadzade said fighting against human trafficking, reforms on human rights and child labor play important role in life of children. He noted children suffer more from global financial crisis. “The Azerbaijani government has drawn up strategic plans to solve these problems. Poverty reduction, job creation, social and economic development of regions is part of this plan. The government puts special emphasis on children`s rights.”
Chief of the Milli Majlis committee on social policy Hadi Rajabli highlighted the current state of children`s rights in the world and Azerbaijan. He said the Milli Majlis had adopted a lot of laws on protection of children`s rights and freedoms, adding Azerbaijan joined about 40 relevant conventions.
Deputy chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, Sadagat Gahramanova, MP Sattar Mehbaliyev, representatives of international organizations and local NGOs spoke of what had been done to protect children`s rights in Azerbaijan.
Other news in this section
