Ombudsman took part in an event on domestic violence and violence against women

On December 7, 2019, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva took part at the event on “Role of intellectuals in fighting domestic violence” and the presentation of social advertisement titled “Say “NO!” to violence against women”, which were organized by Public Union of Regional Legal and Economic Enlightenment.

In her speech Sabina Aliyeva mentioned that the protection of women’s rights, restoration of their violated rights, combating violence against women, awareness raising work in this sphere, ensuring gender equality are always in the Ombudsman’s focus of attention.

Expressing that the fight against violence should be conducted through phases, the Ombudsman noted that firstly preventive methods must be employed against violence, legal awareness raising, meetings, talks and explanatory work with families and communities should be carried out. Meanwhile, its’ important to prepare specific programs on detecting cases of violence, restoring infringed rights, establishing special shelters and crisis centers, providing monetary, moral-psychological assistance to the families that were subjected to violence, learning international practice on combating domestic violence, developing reproductive health strategy, preventing cases of evasion from education and early marriage of minor girls and eliminating violence against women and girls within families.

The Commissioner added that the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) by the Milli Majlis, establishment of relevant data basis and increasing the number of NGOs specialized in this field are necessary for the solution of those problems, in general for more effective protection of women’s rights.