UN says divorce rate low in Azerbaijan
By Jamila Babayeva
The divorce rate is low in Azerbaijan, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women Rashida Manjoo made the announcement in a report on her mission to Azerbaijan in November -December 2013.
Divorce rate in Azerbaijan was 1.2 per 1,000 people in 2012, the report noted.
Some 2,739 divorces were registered in Azerbaijan during the first quarter of 2014. The number of divorces per 1,000 people was 1.2.
The report further cited early marriages as one of the main reason behind the divorces. The parents' concern for their daughter's future as wells as obsession with traditions and customs, and the girls' own wish are among the main reasons for the trend. The family's economic situation is on the last position in terms of importance.
Manjoo noted on her report that approximately 50 percent of university students were women in Azerbaijan in 2012-2013.
The report also talked of women's civil and political rights. "Some 19 out of 124 parliamentarians are women, including the Vice-Speaker. Some 63 out of 525 judges are women," the report noted.
Manjoo further noted that the government understands the need to improve the economic situation and the empowerment of women, and adopts relevant measures in this regard.
Referring to the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the report said 17 percent of the registered entrepreneurs are women.
According to the State Statistics Committee, the report noted, the female unemployment rate is 6.1 percent (male unemployment - 4.3 percent).
During her visit to Azerbaijan, Manjoo welcomed the progress made in combating violence against women in Azerbaijan. She said that Azerbaijan has taken important steps to create an environment based on equality without discrimination.
"The Azerbaijani government is taking all the necessary measures to provide education, employment, health care, psychological support, and accommodations for Azerbaijani women," she said.