Azerbaijan actively combats domestic violence
By Vusala Abbasova
The United Nations Population Fund, UN Deputy Secretary General Babatunde Osotimehin lauded Azerbaijan's actions in combating domestic violence during an international conference on the prevention of domestic violence in Baku last week.
The raising of the legal age for marriage to 18 years for women in Azerbaijan, aimed at curbing domestic violence, is a very positive factor, Osotimehin said, adding that all these measures contribute to reaching the goals and objectives of the state's policy on women.
Osotimehin stated that in Azerbaijan, it was quite possible to fight domestic violence, affirming that everything possible would be done to achieve this goal.
To combat domestic violence, it was necessary for all concerned offices to work in cooperation and for advanced systems to be organized, the protection of citizens' rights ensured, and shelters for victims of violence established, he said while approving the activities conducted in this regard in Azerbaijan.
Osotimehin pointed out that violence can be committed anywhere, regardless of the situation or age of those involved. Osotimehin stressed that if the state adopts the necessary measures, all forms of violence could be eliminated.
The Azerbaijani government has adopted a range of measures in its legislation to eliminate violence against women in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Elchin Efendiyev Efendiyev said during the conference.
The number of crimes related to violence against women has significantly reduced in recent years, he added.
The number of such crimes had amounted to 4,280 in 2011, according to data from the Interior Ministry, but this figure dropped to 2,134 in 2014 and to 567 in the first quarter of 2015.
The government recognizes all women's rights and ensures their lives are safe and comfortable. But violence against women is still one of the main problems, as women don't know their rights or how to use them, Efendiyev stated.
A law to combat domestic violence was enacted five years ago. According to the law in the Family Code, women can get married only at the age of 18, and forced marriages carry a penalty of two years' imprisonment.
The labor and social protection of population minister, Salim Muslimov, suggested at the conference the adoption of stricter laws to minimize violence against women in the country.
Muslimov stressed the importance of aiding rehabilitation efforts and offering social protection to victims of domestic violence.
However, the main goal is to eliminate the source of such violence, Muslimov added.
In his opinion, it is very important to ensure the social wellbeing of families as a high level of social welfare is one of the main methods of eliminating domestic violence.
The Labor and Social Protection Ministry has accredited 10 non-governmental aid centers to date to provide social services to victims of domestic violence, Muslimov noted.
In addition, the Ministry together with the Executive Committee of the Ujar region has founded the Regional Social Rehabilitation Center for children and young people affected by domestic violence in the Ujar region in 2015, to ensure their social, psychological, and legal rehabilitation.
Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli noted at the conference that all the world religions reject domestic violence.
However, cases of domestic violence are seen throughout the world, Gurbanli added.
In his opinion, the customs and traditions of each person play a significant role in forming their world-view; therefore, it is important to teach children to honor the traditions of their ancestors.
The conference, co-organized by Azerbaijan's State Committee for Family, Women's, and Children's Affairs and the United Nations Population Fund, was aimed at studying the UN experience in preventing domestic violence, building bilateral contacts, and strengthening international relations.
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