Staff member of the Ombudsman Office participated at the online event on gender equality and the rights of women

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Republic of Azerbaijan held an online event on the topic “Gender Equality and Expanding the Women’s Rights in the UAE”.  

The Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan (HRCA) was represented by Ms. Ayten Tarverdiyeva, the head of the Sector on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The meeting also brought together the diplomats of the Embassy and representatives from the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Institute of Law and Human Rights and the local non-governmental organization, namely Azerbaijan Society of Disabled Women.

During the meeting, A. Tarverdiyeva provided broad information about the activity of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan in the field of ensuring gender equality and women’s rights, stating that the issues related to women’s rights, gender equality and restoration of the violated women’s rights are always under the focus of the Ombudsman.

She noted that Azerbaijan has ratified some international treaties related to the rights of women, developed the national legal framework promoting gender equality and combating domestic violence, as well as that the HRCA has built close cooperation with international organizations, such as the UN, OSCE, CoE, EU and others. It was also underlined the Commissioner has submitted her proposals regarding the elimination of the existing challenges in protection of women’s rights to the competent state bodies.

A. Tarverdiyeva had emphasized the role of the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, the country President Ilham Aliyev and the First Vice-President, Mehriban Aliyeva in the field of the protection and promotion of the rights of women at the national level.

It was also stated that the Commissioner for Human Rights sensitively investigates all incoming applications on the violations of the women’s rights from the perspective of gender stereotypes and non-discrimination principle.  

The representative of the Ombudsman said the HRCA organizes awareness-raising events for law-enforcement authorities, health and education institutions, and in general, for a broad audience, including women and adolescents in the frame of the international annual campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence”. She also said that the Commissioner held awareness seminars on various topics such as gender equality, domestic violence, human trafficking and early marriages, which enable hundreds of women to be aware of their rights. Furthermore, A. Tarverdiyeva noted that the women are provided with legal consultation free of charge upon their request.

The other participants of this online event have also shared their views on the topic.