Gender equality in Azerbaijan

Last updated
Gender-equality symbol Gender equality symbol.svg
Gender-equality symbol

Gender equality in Azerbaijan is guaranteed by the country's constitution and legislation, and an initiative is in place to prevent domestic violence. Azerbaijan ratified a United Nations convention in 1995, and a Gender Information Center opened in 2002. A committee on women's issues was established in 1998.

Contents

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that "all human beings are created equal", instead of "all men are created equal", to better reflect gender equality and equal human rights. [1] However, women are still in need of additional protection to help them attain gender equality. In simple terms, gender equality means reinforcing the protection and promotion of women's human rights.

Legislation

Constitution of Azerbaijan

According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, men and women are equal before the law. The Constitution prohibits discrimination based on gender, [2] including workplace discrimination. [3]

Guarantee under law

The 21-article Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan On State Guarantees of Equal Rights for Women and Men, adopted on 10 October 2006, aims to eliminate all forms of gender-based discrimination and ensure gender equality in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres. All human rights are guaranteed to women and men. To implement the law, public authorities must regularly review legislation related to gender equality and amend it as necessary. The dissemination of information about gender equality and education in the field has been defined by the law as essential. [4]

Prevention of domestic violence

A law to prevent domestic violence was adopted on 22 June 2010. The law focuses on domestic violence between close relatives to mitigate its negative legal, medical and social outcomes and provide legal and social assistance for victims. Although it does not state that its aim is to protect women, women are the victims in most cases of domestic violence. The law accepts the prohibition of discrimination against women as a core principle, enumerating three types of domestic violence: physical, psychological and sexual. [5]

International cooperation

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Azerbaijan ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1995, and signed its optional protocol in 2000. [6] The first government report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was published on 16 September 1996. [7] The convention clarifies the meaning of "discrimination against women" and assigns the state organizations responsible for taking appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. [8]

UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

Cooperation between UNIFEM and Azerbaijan has taken the form of the Women for Conflict Prevention and Peace Building in the Southern Caucasus regional project. The first phase of the project, aiming to promote the activities of women's organizations and support activists, leaders, and youth in gender equality, peace-building and conflict prevention, took place between 2001 and 2004. The project's second phase, from 2004 to 2007, built on the first phase and reinforced women's rights based on CEDAW, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Millennium Development Goals and the Beijing Platform for Action. [9]

Gender Information Center

The Open Society Fund introduced the Azerbaijan Gender Information Center (AGIC) in 2002. The AGIC is made up of several women organizations: the Research Center of Modern Social Processes; the Association of Creative Women and the Azerbaijan Association of Organizational and Technical Development, both in Baku; the Shams Women and Youth Center in Mingechaur, and the Hudat Center of Youth Programme Development.

Research Center for Modern Social Processes (APEAT)

The Research Center for Modern Social Processes is responsibility for the center. APEAT has conducted studies in collaboration with other organizations, including women's business cooperation in the southern Caucasus (for the Eurasia Foundation in 1999); women in social conflict (for the World Bank in 2000); women in Azerbaijan society (for Altair in 2000); women against violence (for ISAR-Gorizonte in 2001); women in the local community (for ISAR-Gorizonte in 2002), and gender resources and development of the third sector in Azerbaijan (for ISAR in 2002).

Organizational and Technical Development Association

The Organizational and Technical development Association (an AGIC member) has implemented the following projects in cooperation with the Eurasia Foundation (which supported the association's creation): incubating nongovernmental women's organizations (2000) and women's businesses (2002), and marketing the third sector in Azerbaijan (2001). [10]

State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Issues

Committee logo SCFWCA-logo.jpg
Committee logo

The State Committee on Women's Affairs was established by presidential decree on 14 January 1998, and was replaced with the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs by another decree on 6 February 2006. The committee charter was approved by presidential decree on 9 August of that year. [11]

The committee, a ministerial-level body in Baku (the Azerbaijani capital), is financed by the government budget [12] and is responsible for implementing state policy on family, women and children's affairs. It may propose legislation and sign agreements with the relevant bodies of foreign countries and international organizations, in accordance with the Constitution of Azerbaijan, international agreements to which Azerbaijan is a party, and relevant laws.

See also

Related Research Articles

Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations and needs equally, regardless of gender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women</span> International bill of rights for women

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. Described as an international bill of rights for women, it was instituted on 3 September 1981 and has been ratified by 189 states. Over fifty countries that have ratified the convention have done so subject to certain declarations, reservations, and objections, including 38 countries who rejected the enforcement article 29, which addresses means of settlement for disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the convention. Australia's declaration noted the limitations on central government power resulting from its federal constitutional system. The United States and Palau have signed, but not ratified the treaty. The Holy See, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga are not signatories to CEDAW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Uganda</span> Explaining Quality of Human Rights in The Country of Uganda

Human rights in Uganda have trended for the past decades towards increasing harassment of the opposition, cracking down on NGOs which work on election and term limits, corruption, land rights, environmental issues, womens, children and gay rights. In 2012, the Relief Web sponsored Humanitarian Profile – 2012 said Uganda made considerable developments Since at least 2013 the Freedom in the World report by Freedom House has identified Uganda as a country considered to be "Not Free".There are several areas of concern when it comes to human rights in Uganda, and the "Not Free" classification is due to both low political rights and civil liberties rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Commission on the Status of Women</span> Advisory board

The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the principal organs of the United Nations. CSW has been described as the UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. Every year, representatives of member states gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. In April 2017, ECOSOC elected 13 new members to CSW for a four-year term 2018–2022. One of the new members is Saudi Arabia, which has been criticised for its treatment of women.

International Women's Year (IWY) was the name given to 1975 by the United Nations. Since that year March 8 has been celebrated as International Women's Day, and the United Nations Decade for Women, from 1976 to 1985, was also established.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Azerbaijan</span> Overview of the status of women in Azerbaijan

Women in Azerbaijan nominally enjoy the same legal rights as men; however, societal discrimination remains a problem. Baku Research Institute reports that: "Violations of privacy in political and social relations, such as interfering in private life, the sharing of private information, and unauthorized access to private space, are widespread in Azerbaijan".

The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women was adopted without a vote by the United Nations General Assembly in the 48/104 resolution of 20 December 1993. Contained within it is the recognition of "the urgent need for the universal application to women of the rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of all human beings". It recalls and embodies the same rights and principles as those enshrined in such instruments as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Articles 1 and 2 provide the most widely used definition of violence against women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Yemen</span> Overview of the status of women in Yemen

Women in Yemen have historically been placed at a disadvantage due to their gender, with a highly patriarchal society. Although the government of Yemen has made efforts that will improve the rights of women in Yemen, many cultural and religious norms, along with poor enforcement of this legislation from the Yemeni government, have prevented Yemeni women from having equal rights to men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances Raday</span>

Frances Raday is a professor emerita of Elias Lieberman Chair in Labor Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Raday is currently a professor of law at the Haim Striks Law School at Colman College of Management Academic Studies, where she also acts as president of the Concord Center for Integration of International Law in Israel and as head of the school's graduate programs.

Tuvalu is a small island nation in the South Pacific, located North of Fiji and North West of Samoa. The population at the 2012 census was 10,837. Tuvalu has a written constitution which includes a statement of rights influenced by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. While most human rights in Tuvalu are respected, areas of concern include women’s rights and freedom of belief, as well as diminishing access to human rights in the face of global warming. The latter has played a major role in the implementation of human rights actions in Tuvalu given its geographical vulnerability and scarce resources.

Women's rights in Tonga, as compared to the United Nations goals of CEDAW, fail to comply entirely with the conventions requirements. Although considerations have been made by the Tongan parliament and government, ratification of CEDAW still remains unresolved. Factors determining the non-ratification of CEDAW are related to cultural protectionism of the Anga Fakatonga or "the Tongan way" of Tongan culture. Issues of Women's rights in Tonga include factors of women's land right, violence against women, political participation in parliament, and general cultural attitude towards the gender inequalities within Tonga. Many of the issues of gender inequalities within the Tongan culture are reinforced in the home and complex structures of the cultural family hierarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender inequality in El Salvador</span>

Gender inequality can be found in various areas of Salvadoran life such as employment, health, education, political participation, and family life. Although women in El Salvador enjoy equal protection under the law, they are often at a disadvantage relative to their male counterparts. In the area of politics, women have the same rights as men, but the percentage of women in office compared to men is low. Though much progress has been made since the Salvadoran Civil War ended in 1992, women in El Salvador still face gender inequality.

The Republic of Uruguay is located in South America, between Argentina, Brazil and the South Atlantic Ocean, with a population of 3,332,972. Uruguay gained independence and sovereignty from Spain in 1828 and has full control over its internal and external affairs. From 1973 to 1985 Uruguay was governed by a civil-military dictatorship which committed numerous human rights abuses.

The Norwegian Women's Lobby is a feminist policy and advocacy organization in Norway and works for "the human rights of girls and women in all their diversity, to eliminate all forms of discrimination against all girls and women and to promote a gender equal society." It is described as the country's "main, national, umbrella organization" for women's rights. NWL understands women's human rights and discrimination in an intersectional perspective and works to represent the interests of all those who identify as women and girls. NWL is funded by the government over the national budget. The mission of the organization is to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls on the basis of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action and other fundamental international agreements relating to women's human rights. It works to integrate women's perspectives into all political, economical and social processes.

Violence against women in Fiji is recognised to be "pervasive, widespread and a serious national issue" in the Pacific Island region. Fiji's rates of violence against women are "among the very highest in the world". The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre reports that 64% of women who have been in intimate relationships have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partner, including 61% who were physically attacked and 34% who were sexually abused.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in the Marshall Islands</span>

The Marshall Islands is a country in the Pacific spread over 29 coral atolls, with 1,156 islands and islets. It has an estimated population of 68,480 and is one of the sixteen member states of the Pacific Islands Forum. Since 1979, the Marshall Islands has been self-governing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's rights in Myanmar</span>

Women living in Myanmar continue to face barriers to equality. After forty years of isolation, myths about the state of women's rights in Myanmar (Burma) were centered around the conception that Burmese women face less gender discrimination and have more rights than women in surrounding Southeast Asian nations. After Myanmar opened its borders in 2010, gender discrimination began to be seen by the international community. Currently, a variety of organizations--both domestic and international--strive to educate people that this is a misconception to better make strides towards protecting women's rights in Myanmar.

Examples of Gender inequality Papua New Guinea includes poverty, violence, limited access to education and health care, and witch hunts. Cases of violence against women in PNG are under reported. There is also a lack of services for women who experience violence. There are reports of sexual abuse by police officers, on arrest and whilst in police custody. These incidents lack documentation or investigation, consequently, perpetrators are rarely prosecuted or punished. The government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has introduced legislation to combat these issues, though with limited success.

Azerbaijani family traditions emphasize loyalty, mutual love, honesty, tolerance, and respect for older people and parents. Every person in the family must adhere to the rules and principles that are associated with their personal status and place in the family.

Domestic violence in South Korea is the mental, physical, verbal or sexual abuses or crimes of violence committed towards a victim in a domestic setting of marital relations and cohabitation. Domestic violence describes violence towards a domestic partner, towards children and between siblings. According to the Domestic Violence Survey of South Korea in 2010, elder abuse was estimated to be 10%, physical abuse accounted for 2.2%, emotional abuse 9%, economic abuse 1.2%, and neglect 2.5%. Marital violence has been the most prevalent form of family violence in South Korea. One out of six couples in South Korea had more than one episode of physical violence from their spouse.

References

  1. "Universal Declaration of Human Rights". www.un.org. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  2. "Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  3. "Article 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  4. "Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan On State Guarantees of Equal Rights for Women and Men" (PDF).
  5. "Law of the Azerbaijan Republic about prevention of domestic violence".
  6. "United Nations Treaty Collection" . Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  7. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: State Party Report, Azerbaijan". Refworld. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  8. "CEDAW 29th Session 30 June to 25 July 2003". www.un.org. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  9. FS. "Gender issues". www.mfa.gov.az. Archived from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  10. "Azerbaijan Gender Information Center". www.gender-az.org. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  11. "State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic - Charter of The Committee". scfwca.gov.az. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  12. "State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic - History of the Committee". scfwca.gov.az. Retrieved 2017-10-13.