Population day 2013 focuses attention on early marriages
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan with a population of 9.5 million people has marked the World Population Day on July 11.
The population grew by 0.6 percent to 9.5 million by July 1, 2013, according to the Azerbaijan State Statistics Committee.
This year the day was organized by the United Nations in order to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of overall development plans and programmes.
On this World Population Day, UN rose awareness of the adolescent pregnancy issue in the hopes of delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, addressed the population on this occasion. He welcomes the focus of this year's Day, as the "sensitive topic demands global attention".
According to him, to address these problems, girls must be enabled to receive good education through their adolescence. "When a young girl is educated, she is more likely to marry later, delay childbearing until she is ready, have healthier children, and earn a higher income."
"When we devote attention and resources to the education, health and wellbeing of adolescent girls, they will become an even greater force for positive change in society that will have an impact for generations to come," Ban Ki-moon believes.
The Azerbaijani government seriously struggles against a problem of the adolescent pregnancy and marriages. Statistics show that this is not a problem of one region, and covers various regions of the country.
Early marriage means entering into marriage under the age of 18. The international standards specify that entry of children into early marriage is a violation of human rights.
According to Azerbaijan's legislation, marriages are not allowed between close relatives, guardians, and if one of the party is married or suffering from mental illness.
There are two conditions for an official marriage in the country, first, marriage must be voluntary and second, the age of the intending spouses must correspond with the limits.
Forcing minors into marriage is punished by three to four thousand manat ($3,800-$5,100) fine or imprisonment up to four years, according to the Azerbaijan's Criminal Code.
In the total number of women entered into marriage in 1999-2011, a larger number of girls up to 18 years was recorded in 1999 (7.1 percent) and the least the number in 2003 (4.6 percent).
Research held in Baku, Absheron, Guba, Lankaran and Agstafa regions of Azerbaijan provided recommendations for the prevention of early marriage Azerbaijan. Thus, the marriage age for girls was raised to one year - from 17 years to 18 years.