Azerbaijan Parliament Adopts Bill On Gender Equality in the First Reading
3/14/2006 7:50 AM

Contributed by: Yuliya Gureyeva, Azerbaijan National VAW Monitor

BAKU/10.03.06/TURAN: During parliament's plenary session today the bill "On providing equality for men and women (gender)" went through its first reading. Previously, the document was discussed at a joint session of three permanent parliamentary commissions; social policy, human rights and city planning. The bill was submitted by the chairman of the commission for human rights, Rabiyat Aslanova.

According to her, the purpose of the new law is to provide gender equality in all spheres. Statistical data from 2005 shows that women comprise 51 percent of Azerbaijan's population, nevertheless, it is mainly women who are unemployed and poor. Only 3 percent of women work in the sphere of state management, and 54 percent of women are unemployed.

It was proposed to adopt the law "On violence in everyday life against women." Deputies said 70 percent of school teachers are women, and 50 percent of university teachers are women, however their participation in municipal organs does not comprise even one per cent. After a long discussion the bill was adopted in its first reading.

Published in: Parliament Adopts Bill on Gender Equality on First Reading, Turan News Agency, 10 March 2006.

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