The documents on the joint project “Violence Against Women in the 21st Century” signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UN Population Fund UNFPA and Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Family, Women and Child Issues

Ceremony was held on January 16 to sign the documents on the joint project “Violence Against Women in the 21st Century” among Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UN Population Fund UNFPA and Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Family, Women and Child Issues.

Opening the ceremony President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Member of Parliament Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva said:

- Dear ladies and gentlemen,

As you know, Heydar Aliyev Foundation has possessed great respect in our country for short time. Of course, this respect and support has been achieved by action of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Heydar Aliyev Foundation does very active works in the country directed to development of science, education, culture, solution of social problems, carries out some huge projects in humanitarian field.

You probably know that in frame of the New School to New Azerbaijan Project 200 new schools were built in the country at initiative of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and they were supplied with newest equipment. This initiative of Heydar Aliyev Foundation was supported by state and 1300 new schools were built in our country for 3 years.

Within the Children Homes and Boarding Schools Development Programme 30 children homes and boarding schools were fundamentally repaired and we keep paying attention to problems of children in these institutions.

A lot of actions have been taken in field of health. In frame of the Life Without Thalassemia Project a big Thalassemia Center is under construction in our country. It will also be equipped with the very modern appliances. Within the Highest Care to Diabetes-Affected Children Project every diabetes-affected child aged under 14 in our country is provided with high quality insulin. 

Besides, Heydar Aliyev Foundation has fruitful international cooperation. We associate with most influential international organizations.

In field of culture we cooperate with UNESCO and ISESCO, we have implemented very important project with UNDP. In frame of this project titled ICT for the Blind and Visually Impaired a new center was built in Baku for those people, audio library was prepared and latest computer equipment was purchased.

In short, Heydar Aliyev Foundation takes very active part in public life of our country, solution of social problems. Azerbaijan’s rapid economic and social development at present time allows us to meet all needs of every family and protect rights of every member of family. A number of important actions were taken last years in our country towards protection of rights of women and children. Specially State Committee on Family, Women and Child Issues was established and it implements the policy of our state in this direction. Other state bodies such Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Sports develop and perform programs in this field.

It is very good that the role and number of women increase yearly in political and public life of Azerbaijan. But there is at the same time violence against women, violence against women and children in family. We worry about this. You probably know that family violence is very seriously discussed last years all over the world and some international organizations focus attention on this. Every violence, happening everyday or in family is serious violation of human rights. As result, victims can not use their rights and freedoms, realize their potentials.  

We all know well that Azerbaijan is differed in the world with rich family traditions. Respect to the elderly, women, mother, care to children is one of the nicest qualities of our people. In this event, violence against women in any family is not violation of law only but also violation of ethic norms to me. To analyze these facts and solve the problem very important document is going to be signed today by Heydar Aliyev Foundation, State Committee on Family, Women and Child Issues and UNFPA.

Then, Chairperson of the Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Family, Women and Child Issues Hijran Huseynova gave information on the project.

Expressing thanks to Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP, for personal initiative and support to development of the project and Bruno Pouezat, UN Resident Coordinator to Baku, Chairperson of the Committee said execution of this project is of special importance as continuation of measures taken in our country to put an end to the violence.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which serves the progress of our country with humanitarian programs implemented in a lot of spheres, is one of major partners of the project and it will strongly inspire the works performed by the state to prevent all forms of violence and increase responsibility of all organizations operating in this field.

The project will be implemented all over Azerbaijan during 20 months. It aims to open pilot centers in Shuvalan settlement, Ganja, Lankaran and Nakhchivan cities to render rehabilitation services to violence victims and their children. Major objective of the project is enlightenment of population, protection of women and children from everyday violence, removal of stereotypes not complying with traditional Azerbaijani family, prevention of early marriages and protection of children from influence of family violence. The project envisages study of international experience, involvement of international experts in the project, realization of large scale educational campaign among population on human rights and gender equality, holding seminars in regions, development of corresponding publications, arranging educational actions at secondary schools on human traffic and early marriage, making of educational programs on mass media, development of strategy on services for victims of gender-based violence, preparation of training programmes and holding trainings for experts serving the victims of violence, creation of net of centers assuring their social and psychological rehabilitation.

Special Internet site will be created to assure awareness of the public of works done in frame of the project.

UN Resident Coordinator to Baku, UNFPA representative in Azerbaijan Bruno Pouezat thanked President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva for attention to violence against women. He noted extraordinary speed of Azerbaijan’s economy opens great opportunities for solution of problems. The project, which complies with Millennium Declaration signed in 2000 by heads of all states, including national leader of Azeri people Heydar Aliyev, specially obligations the Republic of Azerbaijan has taken on Millennium Development Objective on gender equality and is going to be executed in the year when the 60th anniversary of Human Rights General Declaration is marked, will contribute to better protection of human rights of women in Azerbaijan.

Then, Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP, Hijran Huseynova, Chairperson of the Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Family, Women and Child Issues and Bruno Pouezat, UN Resident Coordinator to Baku, UNFPA representative in Azerbaijan signed documents on implementation of the joint project “Violence Against Women in the 21st Century”.