1)Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

2)Chairwoman of the State Committees for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

3)Head of Executive Authority of Absheron Administrative District

4)Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

*In 2021, a woman was appointed the head of executive authority of Sadarak Administrative District of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Gender statistics of judges 1)

	Number of people		Gender distribution, %
Year	Women	Men	Women	Men
2018	84	487	15	85
2019	78	460	14	86
2020	93	475	16	84

1)Data obtained from the web-site of the judicial system of the Republic of Azerbaijan edilmişdir (http://courts.gov.az/judges_list).

69.Furthermore, 22 women became Members of Parliament following the elections to the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) on February 9th, 2020. In total, representatives of 11 political parties were elected to the current convocation of the 125-seat unicameral legislature, with chairwomen leading the Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, and the Culture Committee.

Nationality

Question 13

70.Since 2019 till October 21st, 2021, some 1,127 people, including 616 women (a total of 1,163 if their children are counted) became citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan following the issuance of the corresponding decrees by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Citizenship was granted to 185 people, including 84 women (a total of 188 if their children are counted) who had been considered stateless (without any valid or invalid document certifying their citizenship of any country, stateless status or identity). Besides, 35 people, including two women (a total of 39 if their children are counted) were under the protection of the Office of the UNHCR in Azerbaijan.

71.To facilitate the naturalization of the stateless people living in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan underwent the corresponding amendments and alterations with the Law of Azerbaijan Republic #980-VQD, dated 1 February, 2018. Pursuant to those changes, it shall be the decided by court if a person who has arrived in the Republic of Azerbaijan by January 1st, 2006, with a former USSR (Soviet Union) passport or another document, and permanently resided there, without citizenship of any country and any valid document certifying their identity, is not a citizen of any country and lives in the Republic of Azerbaijan on a permanent basis, in cases stipulated in the international agreements to which the Republic of Azerbaijan is a party to.

72.The State Migration Service has taken, within its mandate and authority, a series of important actions following a commitment to carry out measures, within three years to come, to make arrangements for the naturalization of 545 stateless people residing permanently in the Republic of Azerbaijan, undertaken by a delegation from the Republic of Azerbaijan in the framework of the high-level segment on statelessness as part of the 70th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee that was held in Geneva on October 7th, 2019. Since the date of undertaking that commitment, the following annual data is available on the people of the above-mentioned category to whom citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan was granted:

•Throughout 2020 – 51 people, including 25 women (no child);

•January 1st – October 21st, 2021 – 38 people, including 25 women (no child).

73.Applications of 83 stateless people, falling under the same category, for citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been proceeded in due course to execution and are being processed.

74.The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan commissioned the State Migration Service with the task of coordinating measures to set up the task force for statelessness issues in the Republic of Azerbaijan, to eliminate statelessness cases in the country; according to that task, the task force for statelessness issues was initiated in September 2020, in the composition involving representatives of the State Migration Service, in its capacity as a coordinating agency, the Ministry for Internal Affairs, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the State Security Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Office of the UNHCR in Azerbaijan, and the Administration of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The newly created body is fully operational and convenes meetings on a regular basis.

Education

Question 14

75.In order to study the possible reasons for the low inclination of women to engineering, the misconception against women becoming engineers and the existing stereotypes in society that engineering is more suitable for men than women, the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan implemented a project Gender balance and career guidance in engineering in 2020–2021. The project surveyed schoolchildren, their parents and non-engineering students. The study involved 3,500 students from 44 secondary schools, 3,000 parents and 200 students from eight higher education institutions.

76.An ICT summer camp for girls Imagine was organized by the MOE with the financial support of UNESCO. Within the framework of the camp, educational excursions were organized to ICT and various specialized institutions.

77.MOE was awarded a diploma and an award for its support in promoting the IT field among women. Azerbaijani Women in ICT – Femmes Digitales (AWIC) ” organized the 2nd AWITA 2018 ceremony (Women in IT Award).

78.Azerbaijan Technical University’s (AzTU) project Enhancing the participation of female students of engineering for sustainable development submitted for the UNESCO Participation Program for the Member States for 2020–2021 has become a winner. The aim of the project is to encourage women to study engineering and enhance their interest in this field.

79.In the event of unexcused absences, local education authorities and territorial executive bodies annually update the lists of children (including girls) living in a particular area. The head of the educational institution informs the district/city executive authority and police department for further communication with the child’s guardian or family. A formal request is made for assistance in preventing the child from skipping education, thus ensuring that the child receives education. In addition, local education authorities regularly monitor schools in the regions and check student attendance.

80.Awareness-raising talks are held among students of secondary schools in the regions about the importance of family and marriage, the consequences of early marriage and negative consequences of marriage between relatives. Government agencies and school administrations provide all necessary assistance and create conditions for girls to study and have a profession.

81.In 2020, the number of girls under the age of 18 with disabilities who study on a paid basis in higher education but the tuition fees were paid from the state budget was 238, and 139 in secondary professional education. In 2021, these figures were 310 and 206, respectively.

Question 15

82.According to Decision #611s of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated November 24th, 2016, Azerbaijani language (mode of instruction), Azerbaijani language (state language) and Mathematics for primary grades have been prepared as part of a Reserve textbook project by the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Gender equality and inclusion are taken into account in the textbooks, which were introduced in the 2020/2021 academic year. Thus, three out of six characters selected in the Mathematics textbook are girls and the other three are boys. At the same time, the textbooks focus on the role and activities of women in society. Also, the Azerbaijani language (mode of instruction) contains special texts and stories about national female heroes.

83.In general, before publication, textbooks are evaluated on a variety of criteria, including one of the key ones, Ensuring a sensitive approach to gender, race, ethnicity and religion. Over the past five years, control over comments and suggestions with a view to the above criteria has been strengthened and specialists involved in this activity.

84.MOE has provided mentors of state institutions, as well as teachers of general education institutions with training courses on gender equality, human rights and the rights of the child, child development, and social, psychological and pedagogical work with children with disabilities, and fundamentals of child protection, child and adolescent psychology, and development, implementation and monitoring of individual development plans. In addition, the Centre for Methodological Support and Professional Development of the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan has prepared materials for teachers on gender equality in the classroom.

85.The content of relevant subjects and out-of-school activities taught at the general education level includes topics related to the prevention and elimination of gender-based sexual choice, messages about gender stereotypes, elimination of gender discrimination, and the image of women in leadership positions. With these recommendations in mind, work is currently underway to include topics such as gender equality, prevention and elimination of gender-based sexual choice, elimination of sexual discrimination, gender stereotyping, domestic violence, human trafficking and early marriage in training courses on the Formation of a healthy socio ‑ emotional environment at school, Fundamentals of school management, Fundamentals of child psychology, and Application of modern learning theories to the teaching process, which will be introduced in the next academic year.

86.The subject Life Skills taught in schools covers topics related to the elimination of gender stereotyping in the training standards related to the formation of important life skills in students.

Employment

Question 16

87.The population of the country increased by 0.3 percent since the beginning of this year and reached 10,145,081 as of 1 September 2021. Women account for 50.1 percent of the population. In 2020, the share of women in the economically active population was 48.9 percent and in the employed population 48.2 percent.

88.One of the priorities of the government’s employment policy in the Republic of Azerbaijan is to expand women’s employment opportunities in the labour market.

89.The 2019–2030 Employment Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the 2020–2025 Action Plan for its implementation were approved by Decree#602 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated October 30th, 2018. The main goals of the strategy are to reduce unemployment among women to minimum, achieve decent working and productive employment conditions for women.

90.The strategic roadmaps for the national economy and key sectors of the economy approved by Decree#1138 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated December 6th, 2016, envisage measures to increase women’s employment, strengthen their vocational training, increase the number of women working in non-agricultural sectors, ensure greater participation of women in SMEs, create additional women empowerment opportunities, enhance the role of women in the social life of rural areas, develop incentive mechanisms for women’s entrepreneurship and other measures. These measures are being implemented now.

91.A My School program is being implemented in Azerbaijan within the framework of cooperation between the State Employment Agency and the United Assistance to Azerbaijan (UAFA). The program will contribute to the sustainability of preschool education. As part of this project, which aims to support women’s involvement in the self-employment program, 43 women have completed Start a Business training courses prepared on the basis of UAFA’s preschool education methodology. In total, the project will support 150 women in establishing preschool education centres.

92.An Employment Support project is being implemented jointly by the State Employment Agency and the World Bank. The project aims is to expand the self-employment program based on the best practices and involve those registered as unemployed, including persons with disabilities, martyr families, the IDPs, those receiving targeted state social assistance, women, youth and other vulnerable groups, in self-employment programs at the expense of the World Bank by providing them with access to the labour market and decent employment. To date, 3,050 people, including 1,073 women, have completed the training. The project was launched in 2020 and will last until 2025. The plan is to provide assets to a total of 22,000 citizens.

93.The State Employment Agency under the MLSPP provided 35,079 women with jobs in 2019 and involved 2,631 women in the self-employment program. 1,977 women were involved in vocational training. In 2020, 31,272 women were provided with jobs, 3,193 women were involved in the self-employment program, 451 women received vocational training and 29 women were provided with social jobs.

94.In 8 months of 2021, 56,788 people were employed, including 13,223 women. 4,071 women were involved in paid public works, 80 people were involved in co‑financing programs, 84 women received vocational training, 1646 women were involved in self-employment. 843 women received unemployment insurance benefits.

95.In order to ensure gender equality, a draft amendment to the Labour Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan was prepared in connection with the application of the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 183 on Revision of the 1952 Convention on the Protection of Motherhood (revised). According to the proposed amendment, men whose wives are on maternity leave are granted paid leave for a period of 14 calendar days on the eve of the day of birth.

96.Consistent reforms are underway in the country to eliminate the differences in the average salary of men and women. In particular, the reforms in the field of salary increase in 2019 were aimed at increasing the share of the minimum wage in the average wage and eliminating the gap between the average wages of women and men. In 2018, the average salary of women accounted for 54 percent of the average salary of men, while in 2019 it reached 63 percent.

97.In order to increase the responsibility of family members during the pandemic, the SCFWCA carried out the following activities in 2020/21:

•Online meetings on psychological problems in families during the pandemic and ways to resolve them;

•Events entitled Promotion of family values, with the support of the MOE (for about 500 students, parents and teachers of nine higher and secondary education institutions);

•Measures to benefit from the experience of equal division of responsibilities in families living together for 60 years;

•Online events entitled Equal Rights organized jointly with the SCFWCA and Youth and Career Development Centre.

98.The SCFWCA conducted an analysis entitled Risks and problems in family relations in a pandemic in order to study interpersonal relationships in families as a result of social isolation measures and the application of a special quarantine regime in the country in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question 17

99.The World Bank provided technical assistance to Azerbaijan in 2020 in “removing legal barriers to women’s employment in Azerbaijan”. The technical support envisaged measures to expand women’s employment opportunities, ensure gender equality and work in higher paid areas, protect women’s rights in accordance with international labour standards. With this aim, the plan is to abolish the List of about 700 professions (positions) and jobs envisaged under the Labour Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and a relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers prohibiting women’s employment, and instead approve the lists of prohibited workplaces and harmful factors for pregnant women and women with children under one year of age in accordance with international standards. Also, in order to eliminate the sharp difference between the average monthly wages of women and men in the country, which is considered as indirect discrimination by ILO experts (in 2018, the average monthly wages of women were 360.8 manats and of men 670.2 manats; in 2019, women received an average of 534.3 manats and men 846.5 manats), changes are being introduced to the national legislation.

Health

Question 18

100.Activities to prevent maternal mortality target three main groups: 1) awareness-raising among future parents, 2) increasing the knowledge and skills of health workers on normal and pathological pregnancies, births, as well as complications of pregnancy, 3) improving the logistics of medical institutions in the regions.

101.The special commission for the analysis of maternal mortality and sub‑commissions for the investigation and analysis of non-fatal pregnancy complications under the MOH continue their activities. As a result of the analysis, priority areas and topics have been identified and training courses organized to improve the knowledge and skills of medical staff. Over the past three years, many medical facilities in the regions, especially in remote areas, have been re-supplied, new medical facilities have been built, including those in Baku, the capital city, and maternity wards have been supplied with the latest equipment.

102.In order to reduce maternal and infant mortality, the implementation of training programs for health workers continued during the pandemic in 2019–2021. In particular, clinical guidelines for primary healthcare in obstetrics and gynaecology have been updated, guidelines for the prevention and management of complications have been developed, courses on neonatal resuscitation have been organized for more than 700 obstetricians, neonatologists, paediatricians and midwives in more than 20 cities and districts, courses on Advance Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) and Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) have been organized; the Third and Fourth Azerbaijan-Turkey Advanced Training Courses on Neonatology have been organized; an international conference and training course on neonatal care have been organized to improve the knowledge and skills of midwives and nurses working in maternity hospitals.

103.The Commission of the MOH for the Improvement of Neonatological Services annually analyses perinatal deaths, identifies their causes and takes measures to strengthen the capacity of medical institutions and medical staff to prevent their recurrence.

104.MOH regularly conducts public awareness campaigns on healthy pregnancy, nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy, and reproductive health through social media networks, YouTube and television. About 20 booklets have been published, information boards and banners displayed on more than 50 social networks, seven videos posted on CESD’s YouTube channel and more than 100 educational lectures arranged for health workers on TV channels on subjects such as reproductive health, normal pregnancy, healthy nutrition during pregnancy, physical activity during pregnancy, etc. Special sections on Reproductive Health have been designed in mobile applications for future mothers and pregnant women.

105.A series of educational videos on reproductive health, antenatal care, healthy pregnancy and prevention of maternal mortality has been prepared and printed awareness materials distributed through outpatient clinics. Live and e-training courses for more than 400 medical workers were organized in 2020–2021 on subjects such as normal and pathological pregnancy, reproductive health, pregnancy and COVID-19, etc. Seven virtual training courses were developed and posted on http://www.ecourses.az portal.

106.EBMG and MD Reference portals and mobile application contain more than 100 clinical guidelines and methodological recommendations on obstetrics and gynaecology, including pregnancy, prevention and treatment of complications in obstetrics, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, congenital heart defects and other diseases in newborns.

107.In 2021, on an order of the MOH, CESD, the Azerbaijan Medical University, the Institute of Retraining of Doctors started the process of updating methodological recommendations and clinical guidelines on improving obstetrics and neonatology services, and this process will be completed by the end of the year.

108.Clinical guidelines obtained from the Duodecim Society of Finland were translated in 2019–2021 and made available to primary healthcare providers. Thus, the EBMG portal (http://www.ebmg.az) contains about 50 clinical guidelines on pregnancy, prevention and management of complications in pregnancy, medical interventions to prevent maternal mortality and other measures. MOH’s CESD supported the Clinical Guidelines for Evidence-Based Medicine portal and provided electronic access to more than 900 clinical guidelines and instructions for tens of thousands of healthcare professionals.

109.In 2019–2021, numerous training courses on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure and infections during pregnancy were organized in gynaecological clinics, maternity hospitals, maternity wards of hospitals operating in Baku and the regions, educational seminars and screenings conducted among pregnant women, and awareness-raising booklets distributed. Seminars on family planning, reproductive health, abortion prevention, safe abortion, early pregnancy, etc. for pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy were held in primary healthcare facilities and methodological recommendations provided. In addition, screening and awareness-raising activities on blood pressure, early diagnosis and prevention of venous diseases of the lower extremities were continued in medical institutions, malls, and ASAN service centres in Baku and the regions in 2019 and 2021.

110.In 2021, awareness-raising was conducted in the field of maternal and child health and booklets such as Pregnancy home card, Pregnancy anaemia, Pregnancy nutrition pyramid, Spinal curvature in children, What is child abuse?, Environment and children, Reproductive health, Hello, mom! were distributed.

111.In February–May 2021, more than 10,000 girls and boys were given educational lectures (face-to-face and online), explaining the possibilities of having a healthy family in the future, maintaining reproductive health and observing the rules of hygiene. Also, a manual on reproductive health was revised and made available to teachers.

112.During full-time education in 2019 and 2021 (when there were no pandemic restrictions), half-day seminars on reproductive health and family planning covering more than 30,000 children from over 1,500 secondary and boarding schools of the country and more than 5,000 parents were held in cooperation with the MOH, MOE, UNFPA, UNICEF and Hopeful Future Social Initiatives PU, and awareness-raising booklets distributed.

113.The CFSC under the SCFWCA hold regular awareness-raising events on family planning with the participation of community members.

114.UNFPA has developed an online training course for doctors called “Virtual Contraception” covering 12 areas. These courses have been uploaded onto the e‑learning platform on the CESD website. Doctors completing the courses are provided with international certificates.

115.From June 7th to October 20th, 2021, medical services in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology were provided to 909 women living in border villages as part of a project on the provision of mobile services on sexual and reproductive health (CRS) with the support of the UNFPA, Compulsory Medical Insurance and TABIB. During the examinations, the women were informed about the use of modern contraceptives.

Economic and social benefits

Question 19

116.In January-February 2019, the Youth Inc. Entrepreneurship Program with support from AzerTurkBank OJSC and in partnership with the SCFWCA, the Azerbaijan Women Entrepreneurship Development Association, the WoWoman Azerbaijan organization, the Yunus Social Business Centre operating within ASUE and INNOLAND Incubation Centre, held a competition involving 161 female entrepreneurs above 16 years of age and determined winners in five nominations.

117.In order to increase the knowledge and skills of female entrepreneurs in the field of corporate governance, training courses Corporate governance and its role in the effective operation of the company were held in 2019. In addition, business projects implemented under the Gender-Based Economic Support for Women project, co‑financed by the European Union and the UNDP and supported by the Agency, were provided with necessary equipment. Representatives of the Agency, who successfully completed the training organized within the framework of the EU’s Support for the Development of Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas in 2019, conducted training courses for women in the regions of the country.

118.In February 2020, more than 130 women interested in entrepreneurship participated in training courses Entrepreneurship and Starting a Business held in four regions of the country. In addition, 25 women possessing weaving skills and interested in working from home were identified in two regions of the country, provided with relevant materials and equipment related to weaving and sewing, and received support with the sale of their products.

119.Training course Plan Your Future and Social Media Marketing were held for women entrepreneurs in the regions and Success Story documentaries featuring women who started and expanded their businesses were shown. In addition, in order to increase the knowledge and skills of women entrepreneurs, training courses were delivered Business plan development, Human Resource Management, Fundraising and work with government programs, How to sell a service or product, Rules for electronic document exchange between tax authorities and taxpayers, and other topics.

120.During the pandemic, many women entrepreneurs benefited from the country’s general support for their activities. One of the activities undertaken to promote women’s entrepreneurship has been the launch of a Development of Women ’ s Entrepreneurship section on the official website of SMEDA. Information about the work done in this area is regularly published in it. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Association is actively represented on the Agency’s Public Council. To date, more than 30 percent of entrepreneurs in Baku and regions of the country have benefited from various measures and support mechanisms implemented by the Agency to educate entrepreneurs, increase their knowledge and skills, and facilitate their access to markets and financial resources.

121.451 entrepreneurs and managers, including more than 30 percent women, benefited from the Agency’s German-Azerbaijan Joint Program for Professional Development of Managers in the Azerbaijani Business Community implemented in partnership with the Agency to provide SMEs with international experience.

122.In 2019–2020 and six months of 2021, the Entrepreneurship Development Fund provided AZN 338.5 million in soft loans to 3,027 business entities, including AZN 23 million to 255 women entrepreneurs. During this period, 873 jobs are to be created due to soft loans provided to women entrepreneurs. In particular, in the first six months of 2021, 39 women entrepreneurs were provided with AZN 4 million in soft loans. There are plans to create 193 jobs.

	Loans extended		Including loans for the development of women-owned businesses
Year	Number of projects	Total loan amount (mln AZN)	Jobs (people)	Number of projects	Total loan amount (mn AZN)	New jobs (people employed)
2019	1573	175.0	5363	142	13.8	538
2020	908	126.9	2725	74	5.2	142
2021 (Jan. – Sep.)	1152	60.9	1796	96	5.1	228

123.The 2019–2023 Action Plan of the State Program on the Socioeconomic Development of the Regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan contains clauses on the continuation of measures to increase women’s employment, as well as the development of small business, improving vocational training, financial literacy and information technology skills, as well as supporting the sale and exhibition of women’s handicrafts and consumer goods, and supporting the involvement of vulnerable groups, especially low-income families, women, youth and persons with disabilities, their integration into the labour market, and relevant government agencies have implemented activities in this direction. In addition, various unions and public associations, including the Azerbaijan Women Entrepreneurship Development Association, the Azerbaijan Rural Women’s Association and the Ganja Women Entrepreneurs Public Union, have been established and are operating to support the participation of women in society and their initiatives.

Rural women

Question 20

124.According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated September 5th, 2018, On expanding the use of electronic services in the field of labour, employment, social protection and social security, a centralized electronic information system of the MLSPP consisting of 18 subsystems, e-social web-portal was launched and an Employment subsystem as created. The Employment subsystem provides a register of the unemployed and job-seekers, a register of employed people, a database of vacancies, as well as electronic employment services. Using this system, every unemployed and job-seeker can apply for vacancies both in their neighbourhood and in the country as a whole, while employers and entrepreneurs have transparent access to the workforce on a single website.

125.A Sustainable and Operational Social Security Agency and DOST Centres have been established under the MLSPP in order to provide 155 types of services, including those related to labour, employment, social protection, disability, rehabilitation, etc. in a transparent and efficient manner through the application of innovative solutions. By 2025, a total of 17 DOST centres and 55 branches will be established in the capital and regions.

126.The State Employment Agency under the MLSPP took a number of measures in 2020 to increase the competitiveness of women in the labour market, develop entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities, and provide vocational training and additional education for unemployed and job-seeking women. During the vocational training courses organized by the Agency, 451 women were trained as cooks, confectioners, make-up artists, carpet-weavers, tailors, hairdressers, etc. during the year.

127.Also, 3,200 out of 12,600 people involved in the self-employment program in order to encourage entrepreneurship and start a business in the future were women.

128.Within the framework of the FAO-Azerbaijan Partnership Program’s Women ’ s Economic Empowerment project, 277 women farmers were provided with about 50 online and field training courses to increase their knowledge and skills in various areas of agriculture.

129.On October 15th, the International Rural Women’s Day, a conference Economic Empowerment of Women in Agriculture was organized by USAID, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Public Association of Rural Women of Azerbaijan. The conference was joined by more than 50 rural women’s organizations and informal groups, and discussed issues of cooperation between the public and private sectors to increase the economic sustainability of rural women.

Women living in difficult conditions

Question 21

130.The SCFWCA has implemented a project together with the UNDP to ensure the initial recovery and community sustainability of vulnerable groups in three regions of Azerbaijan since January 2021, and Community Resource Centres have been established in these regions. Resource Centres provide employment and self-employment support services to vulnerable women.

131.In 2021, with the support of the MOE, online events Domestic violence as a factor affecting the psychological climate of the family and Let ’ s say NO to domestic violence! were held for students, parents and teachers of state higher and secondary education institutions. During the events, the students were informed about domestic violence, types of violence, mechanisms to help victims of violence, and the existing legal framework in this area.

Climate change and disaster risk reduction

Question 22

132.A number of sector and general analyses have been conducted to ensure that policies and programs on climate change at the national level include gender prospects, and relevant recommendations have been developed.

133.The Climate Change and Gender section of the Country Program report prepared within the framework of the Readiness Project (1) in cooperation with the Green Climate Fund and implemented jointly by the UNDP and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) contains ways of women and children adapting to climate change, recommendations for participation in decision-making on disaster risk reduction processes and awareness-raising on climate change.

134.MOE’s webinars on climate change discuss the effects of this phenomenon on women and children who are more sensitive to climate change and the role of women in reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases. They emphasize the special role of women in energy saving and efficient use of energy both as the main user in the household and the educator of the next generation, and in the formation of the “green thinking” mentality.

135.Gender aspects are covered in the Action Plan for agricultural development contained in the Government’s Strategic Vision and Road Map for Azerbaijan (preparation and approval of rational physiological norms, based on which a system of regular analysis and assessment of current and future food needs is developed).

136.A study on the development of a document to assess gender and socioeconomic well-being is underway with the support of the MENR, FAO Azerbaijan-United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and EcoSferaSocio-Environmental Centre. The main purpose of the study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the project area and surrounding communities from a gender and socioeconomic perspective to determine the causes and consequences of land degradation neutrality.

137.‘ Environmental protection ’ was one of the topics that were discussed at the Fifth National Forum of Azerbaijani Children held on November 18th, 2021.

Marriage and family relations

Question 23

138.Resolution#213 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated June 23rd, 2020, approved the Rules for raising awareness among young people about the importance of family and marriage, the negative consequences of early marriage and consanguineous marriage in order to protect and strengthen it.

139.In order to prevent early marriages, the MOH conducts public awareness campaigns in the relevant regions of the country every year. Within the framework of these activities, booklets and leaflets are prepared and distributed, providing information about early marriage and its short and long-term negative impacts on mental and physical health, the negative impact of premature births and abortions on health, especially on reproductive health.

140.In 2019–2021, more than 700 secondary school teachers, police officers, social workers, school psychologists and employees of NGOs working in the regions underwent 2-day live and virtual training courses on the prevention of violence against children, and early marriage. An e-course was developed and posted on http://www.ecourses.az platform.

141.In 2019–2021, half-day seminars on reproductive health, early marriage, children’s rights and human trafficking were organized in more than 800 schools for 10–11th grade students in six districts of the country and several districts of Baku. Awareness-raising and incentive banners No to Early Marriage!, Reproductive Health, Safe Abortion, etc. were developed and distributed to the general public and health workers.

142.In 2019, 367 early marriages were registered, while in 2020, this figure improved significantly to 165 registered cases. In order to prevent such violations, monitoring is carried out in secondary schools and awareness-raising campaigns such as We say no to violence!, Able to defend yourself, We must know our rights, Early marriages lead nowhere, Early marriages and negative consequences of incest. In order to inform the population, electronic posters such as Marriage under-18 is a marriage of children! are put up in Baku Underground stations.

143.In order to help address psychological problems in families during quarantine and social isolation, the SCFWCA held online meetings on psychological problems in families during the pandemic and ways to address them. These were also joined by psychologists. A total of 2,600 people benefited from the online meetings.

144.According to the Order of President Ilham Aliyev declaring 2020 a Year of Volunteers in Azerbaijan, the Committee is implementing a project called Family Volunteers. The main purpose of Family Volunteers is to promote a healthy lifestyle, a strong family model, disseminate positive life examples and stories through the transfer of knowledge and experience, and contribute to the effective organization of family leisure. One of the project goals is to support people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters, fires, epidemics and other emergencies. The goals of Family Volunteers also include provision of relevant services to address the difficulties and problems faced by vulnerable groups, including low-income families and young people, as well as social, psychological and moral support.

145.492 crimes against the sexual immunity and sexual freedom of minors were committed in 2019–2020 and nine months of the current year (rape, acts of sexual violence, coercion into sexual acts, sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16, immoral acts, child prostitution and/or involvement in immoral acts) (in 2019 there were 168, in 2020 – 177and in 9 months of the current year – 147). For these acts, 369 people (in 2019 – 130, in 2020 – 147and in nine months of the current year – 92) were brought to justice (the legislation does not contain a separate provision on early marriage).

146.In 2021, the MOE and the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations held an event to inform students and teachers of state higher and secondary education institutions about the “negative consequences of early and consanguineous marriage”. Social videos designed to prevent early and informal marriages and to inform the population about this topic were distributed on social networks. Awareness-raising activities are regularly carried out in Women Resource Centres (11 regions) operating in various districts of the country to prevent unofficial marriages.

147.The Family Code provides general norms for the protection of the rights of women with disabilities. According to the Article 82.1 of the Code, able-bodied adult children are obliged to support and provide care for their disabled parents in need of financial assistance. According to this code, a spouse who does not have an independent income due to household, childcare or other valid reasons during the marriage also has the right to common property. Chapter 14 of the Code provides for the obligation of an able-bodied person to provide financial assistance for the taking care of a disabled person.