Ganja Regional Center of the Ombudsman held a videoconference on gender-based violence

Ganja Regional Center of the Ombudsman held a legal awareness-raising videoconference titled “Combating Gender-Based Violence”. Staff members of Goygol District Executive Authority, Youth and Sport Department, Goygol Center for Support to Children and Families under the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, Ganja Regional Department of the State Committee on Religious Associations (SCRA) and active youth representatives participated in the event.

The head of the Ombudsman’s Ganja Regional Center, Sabuhi Abbasov conveyed the Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva’s greetings to the participants. S. Abbasov noted that COVID-19 pandemic has caused increasing number of family conflicts, gender-based domestic violence along with other major difficulties in many spheres in the world. He informed the participants about comprehensive awareness-raising activities carried out by the Azerbaijan Ombudsman institution aimed at drawing public attention to the fight against gender-based and domestic violence. It was mentioned that such events are held with central and local state authorities by involving different groups of population; proposals are made for improving legislation and activities are realized within the campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” that is observed every year from November 25 to December 10. 

S. Abbasov noted that the legal knowledge and awareness of young people on gender equality enhanced thanks to the regular implementation of measures set in the “State Program on Azerbaijani Youth in 2017-2021” by the Ombudsman institution and Youth and Sport Departments. 

The significant role of the “Plan of Actions on prevention of gender-biased sex selection for the period of 2020-2025” approved by the Order of Cabinet of Ministers dated February 24, 2020, on keeping balance in sex ratio of the population, ensuring the gender equality, also the awareness-raising activities of the Ombudsman institution in this regard were emphasized in the videoconference. The participants were also informed about the provisions of Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prevention of Domestic Violence.

The representatives from Goygol District Executive Authority, Department of Youth and Sport, Ganja Regional Department of the SCRA delivered speeches and shared their opinions about institutional measures against gender-based violence, successful youth policy of the state. 

The videoconference proceeded with discussions, and participants put forward several proposals.