Baku, November 8, AZERTAC

In the thirty years of excellent governance, Azerbaijan has undergone significant development and transformation in every field, including economy, trade, business and investment, education, media, and robust reforms. Moreover, Azerbaijan has potentially made progress in empowering women and mainstreaming them. Achieving gender equality is one of Azerbaijan’s highest priorities and is considered a necessary precondition for fully achieving human development. Gender equality recognizes the individual, regardless of gender, as the central figure of societal progress and enables the nation to set on a long path to democratization and sustainable development. In this aspect, the legal framework and strategies pursued by the Government of Azerbaijan enable women to exercise their rights and advance their position in society. Since independence, Azerbaijan has ratified almost all essential international documents on the protection of women's rights.

Azerbaijan is leaving no stone unturned to promote and ensure women’s rights. In this aspect, triumphant and vigilant policies under the visionary leadership of President Ilham Aliyev provide a glaring manifestation of the growing prominence of Azerbaijan’s women in national prosperity. Women are playing a sustainable role in the nation-building and economic growth of the country. Due to the robust initiatives of Azerbaijan’s Government, school enrolment rates reached 99.8-100%, and significant progress was made on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Gender gaps in primary and secondary education have dropped considerably in comparison with previous years. During this time, employment opportunities have also witnessed a significant rise, as numerous new business openings were introduced in the capital Baku and in regions.

Women empowerment strategies and inclusive civil society:

Women have always remained an integral part of maintaining the religious heritage and cultural identity. Women have always been the backbone of the family and the main pillar of the sustainable structure of a society. Women empowerment and gender quality are the main focus areas of a global community. It reflects ensuring women’s ability of decision-making, promoting their sense of self-worth, determine their own choices, and their prerogative to influence society while constructively playing their part. Azerbaijan held women at a high position and gave them balanced status with men. The state has enhanced the local capacities of women and organizations in urban and rural areas and advanced the economic liberalization and gender equality agenda. Opting a human rights-based approach, thousands of women and girls have expanded their horizons with hands-on training and learning experiences. Women interested in enhancing the business sphere are now financially independent and successfully leading businesses of their own with profound facilitation of Azerbaijan’s government.

Women in Azerbaijan are playing a pivotal role in the formation of an all-inclusive society. Furthermore, they are also involved in the policy orientation process. This outcome shows that Azerbaijan’s society has evolved outrightly in a positive way that has created an inclusive and vibrant society with more participation of women in every walk of life. Azerbaijan has a history of taking steps to empower women. It was the first Islamic country to grant women political rights equal to men and issued a series of progressive laws on domestic violence, gender equality, anti-trafficking, and the minimum age of marriage. Despite other significant milestones, progress towards gender equality in Azerbaijan is worth praising. Azerbaijan scores high in reducing the gender gap in educational attainment and health.

Measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and additional protocols:

The Government of Azerbaijan frequently conducts women’s awareness operations. The core aim is to promote awareness among women and girls. The special project on strengthening civil society’s role in promotion of gender equality and women’s rights is being elaborated to increase the role of non-governmental organizations in monitoring and reporting to ensure the implementation of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). In this regard, Azerbaijan has fostered active engagement and cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Azerbaijan’s Government has also been facilitating NGOs as they are the fundamental pillar in empowering women and creating awareness. Following are the initiatives mentioned below:

ı. Increasing the overall legal literacy of NGOs on various international mechanisms on women’s rights, particularly, the CEDAW and its Additional Protocol.

ıı. Enhancing the knowledge of the NGO sector to act as an effective advocate of women’s rights.

ııı. Providing NGOs with resources and practical skills to monitor and develop detailed reports on women’s rights.

ıv. Capacity-building measures coupled with awareness sessions and training courses.

v. Special focus is on involving women in public agencies and decision-making processes, including their participation in intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental sectors.

National Action Plan of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Gender Equality (2019-2024):

Azerbaijan’s National Action Plan reflects that the country has adopted a well-structured and cohesive policy framework. It can be easily envisaged that under the dynamic leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan will continue to pursue such effective policy initiatives to enhance national strength and proactive role internationally. The objectives and activities of the National Action plan for gender equality are as follows:

a. Improving legislation on gender equality and women’s rights

b. Raising public awareness on gender equality and women’s rights

c. Increasing response measures in relation to gender-based violence

d. Attain gender equality in the economic area

e. Further development of small-scale female entrepreneurship

f. Enhancing competitive skills of women in labour market

g. Prevention and fight against gender stereotypes and discrimination

h. Conducting surveys to identify basic needs of marginalized groups of women and men, and among rural women, persons with disabilities, women IDPs, refugees, and elderly

i. Broadening the involvement of women and girls in peace processes, prevention of school drop-outs and early marriages

j. Enhancing the presence of women in political and public lives and providing justice

Analysing Azerbaijan’s successful policies:

By the abovementioned profound assessment of Azerbaijan’s constructive strategies for women empowerment, it has been clear that these strategies will pave the way to attain gender equality and national progress. Azerbaijan has settled an excellent precedent in the South Caucasus region by promoting women’s right and making them a vital pillar for the national growth. The visionary leadership of Azerbaijan considers women empowerment and gender equality as a prerequisite for a vibrant and progressive society. Thereby, the leadership is determinate to ensure women’s rights and believes that there are no obstacles in the way of women’s ambition and socio-economic growth, for which the sky is the limit.

Mehreen Gul, Director, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad & Eurasian Expert