The Results of Gender Monitoring of Government and Independent Press of Azerbaijan

 

In spite of a big gravity of the situation lunges on women’s share in critical moments of life of the country their activity is perceived by the society as a natural process. As the analogous case may be taken as example that women were in the first ranks of the fighters during movement for national liberation in Azerbaijan and the society looked at it as natural process. In spite of not much time has passed from that time the women’s role in the construction of civil society as an important factor was missed from the view or “forgotten”.

On 6 March 2000 was accepted Edict of President of Azerbaijan Republic “About accomplishment of public woman policy in Azerbaijan Republic”. However, this edict        remains as a declarative document till this day.

     A question: what is the reason of it?

We as citizens living in a developed country want an equality of women and men, promotion of women role in admission of decisions, apportionment norms to them. Therefore we subscribe to international documents and undertake to fulfil requirements envisaged in these documents. We also conduct energetic discussions in parliament about equality of women and men (in spite of the participation of sufficient number of woman isn’t ensured on these discussions and women often don’t have any information that discussions of such kind are conducted). However, in spite of the conducted policy azeri women can’t while utilize an equality of men and women in a due form.

Opinion can be formed that a law about an equality of women and men discussed at the moment in parliament will arrange everything in own places.  

Whether it will be so indeed? An answer to this question isn’t a one-digit. As President’s Edict appointed above this law also will remain declarative. The conducted researches show that the necessity in creation of powerful woman movement to get this equality exists. Such woman movement which will possess with opportunity to state their opinion and critique on every item of accepted bill concerning women, and also which will be able to affect on parliament and other legislative organs. And namely this isn’t observed in Azerbaijan Republic. And from this point of view any doubts in declaration of the accepted law don’t remain.      

During the monitoring of mass media conducted this year the activity of women famous in social-political life of Azerbaijan was analyzed and the next results were received.  

34 newspapers of mass media were studied. In the research we have had some aims:

·        Women’s role and place in construction of civil society;  

·        Study of the spheres elected by them as priority and research their activity in these spheres;

·        The policy conducted by women-leaders in the sphere of settlement of women problems and its’ results.   

The results of the monitoring conducted in the sphere of “azeri women’s activity in social-political life” are on different themes. These are: political activity, a view on foreign policy, different problems, human rights and etc. During the research we’ve followed on about 30 names of women whose activity is light up in mass media. We’ve divided the women whose activity is light up in the press on active and passive groups.   

            During the first researches conducted in the press the cases of infringement of gender equality were taken into account and the next results were received.

·        More place is given to men-experts’ opinions at the page; 

·        Also if opinions of women-experts and men-experts coincide then less place is given to woman’s opinion (in spite of these opinions don’t break off man’s opinions);   

·        Woman’s interview is lodged without photo or photos no comprehensive to the theme can be seen;

·        In political matters men-experts are often applied; 

·        The leaders of mass media are either indifferent to publication of the articles about women’s problems or put concrete obstacles to it;   

·        The organization in the framework of monitoring with the aim of achievement of gender situation has conducted researches in two newspapers “Khalg” and “Baku Khabar” after that the next results were received.     

The title of the newspaper: Baku Khabar

Period: January, February, March 2006

Dates of appearance of the newspaper	January		February		March		in all		%
	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W
General number of men and women	200	48	123	26	140	14	463	88	84	15,9

 

 

 

The title of the newspaper: Khalg

                  Period: January, February, March 2006

Dates of appearance of the newspaper	January		February		March		in all		%
	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W
General number of men and  women	198	23	102	2	184	11	484	36	93	6,9

 

 

In the ”Khalg Gazeti” public newspaper women names are often met if these women are the personages of the article (15). That is if this article is a biography of some academic, writer or worker of sphere of art. These are, for example, the articles devoted to her jubilee. The article ”That is called the world – is you…” is devoted to prominent figure of our science, orientalist, professor Aida Imanguliyeva. The conference which was conducted with the participation of famous academics and devoted to 65 jubilee of Aida Imanguliyeva is described. The article engages 50 % of the page, settles down in the top half. Photo of the personage and also photos from the conference is situated in the top part of the article. Heroine’s biography, scientific and creative activity is described in the article and also is spoken about who has attended at the conference, which words were heard in address of famous academic, her works were called and also the presentation of the books devoted to her life and activity was taken place.        

  Or an example more: an article: “Aziza’s world” is devoted to the prominent writer Aziza Jafarzade.  Author of the article – a man, doctor of philosofical siences.  In the article biography of the writer is completely described, is written about how good and clever person she was, how prominent and talanted writer. Her works are called, words are quoted. About that is spoken how much she has done and created for the native country. The article engages 60 % of the page. There is heroine’s photo next to the title.

  Analogous example: the article about president’s visit to Siyazan region.  He has taken part at the opening of Central Clinical Hospital where different experts have performed. A doctor of the hospital– Takhfa Zeynalova - is among them.  She has told in her speech gratitude to president for the help in the opening of the clinic.   

That is, as it is seen, women names appear only in the rank of men names, among other personages. The other articles where women attend are the articles about the first lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva. Her name is often met in this newspaper. Sometimes can be description of the first lady’s trip on 2, on 3 pages or her meeting with some statesmen, visit of some institutions in the frameworks of her public activity. Such articles are accompanied in the main with a story about that where she has been and what has done, her words are sometimes given. At recent time the first lady of the country Mehriban Aliyeva worries about children’s problems, and rather children-orphans’. The articles about her participation in social life draw attention to itself, in particular in settlement of children-orphans’ problems.  She is the only first lady which interferes in social life and gives attention to the weakest place – children’s problem after receipt the independence by Azerbaijan. Namely her this activity is often and consecutively light up in “Khalg gazeti”. There are many photos here, usually of big format, because of which the articles about Mehriban Aliyeva often engage two-three pages.

Only time when it could be noticed that women were applied to elucidate their opinion – it is during municipal elections. Then women have performed concerning municipal elections passed the day before: observes, members of electoral committees, chairmen of electoral districts, electors, members of political parties.  

But in whole, in serious matters, where it is necessary to know expert’s opinion that is in the sphere of politics, economics, business, industry, international relations, the authors of the articles don’t apply to women.     

Such situation is in a public newspaper.

The situation in an independent newspaper in comparison with public newspaper is a little better. There are more women names and spheres in which they are applied. And all the same we run into an inequality here too. As it is seen in the table women-experts are concentrated mainly in the sphere of protection of the rights (31), and also these are women performed from the name of some parties, in the main political (30). In the our women’s appearances whose names are met in independent newspaper, predominate the next themes: protection of human’s rights, elimination of negative factors in this sphere, protection of political prisoners’ rights, and also freedom of the word and offence. Some women-leaders the representatives of the parties in the main touch on problems inside of the party in their appearances in the press. That is women are perceived only at the level of activiters in social,        sphere, sphere of human’s rights.   For example, the chairman of Society of Protection Women’s Rights named Dilara Aliyeva Novella Jafaroglu is enough often met at the pages of the newspapers with the sharpest and courageous pronouncements concerning liberation of the political prisoners and protection of their rights.  She has appeared with the statements about the preparation to municipal elections and the role of NGO in this matter, and also the rise of women’s activity at municipal elections. Besides, her appearances as defender of the rights were on the theme of freedom of the word, freedom of the meeting and also about the problem of breach of human’s rights.   

Sometimes the articles are met in which the woman performs on theme of journalism, role of mass media (6). Most often it is the journalist or correspondent of the newspaper. The article: “Employee of “Azadlig” newspaper will be also attracted to interrogation as the witness”, where Zulfiya Aliyeva – the journalist, writes the articles-inquiry in the matter of murder of vice-president of Azerbaijan Football Association Fatulla Guseynov. Writes that she has pull out different versions as it is her journalist dept.  Say that she as a journalist sitting in a cold room   tries to look into secret reasons of some incident, pulling out her versions, to set the personality of criminals, as the workers of the office of public prosecutor sitting in a soft arm-chair don’t want to create an anxiety to themselves. «If the investigators can’t conduct investigation of some incident then though give their places up to the journalists. Or though the workers of office of public prosecutor will work at their duties. If they can’t do it I’m not going to exploit myself”.  

Quite a few articles in which women perform as experts in questions of the policy – internal (6) and foreign (2). And namely here such tendency is traced: if it is necessary to know expert’s opinion the journalists never apply only to the woman. Women names are sometimes met here only among men’s. “Opinions of deputies of “Yeni Azerbaijan” party forked again” – the article consists from deputies’ speeches at the meeting of Parliament among which deputy Melahet Gasanova’s words. 5 experts in all. Four of them are men. Melahat’s words engage the smallest area of the article. But they aren’t less important than men’s pronouncements about the maintenance.

The article: “Does the westernized opposition leave the ranks?”. Subtitle: “Akif Shahbazov doesn’t share Leyla Yunus’s opinion. “Westernized opposition will never leave the political scene”. Leader of Institute of Peace and Democracy defender of human rights Leyla Yunus has stated her opinion concerning the situation existed with opposition. She thinks that it is become noticeable that the westernized opposition wants to leave the political arena. In accordance with her opinion a “new opposition” can be created which in its’ turn will be far from the West and democratic values. “And it is naturally because the government wants to create the “new opposition” and that means that there can’t be any speeches about any democratic principles or about the westernized policy. “New opposition” will admit only one policy – Aliyev’s”. However the secretary of Azerbaijan Democratic Party Akif Shahbazov doesn’t agree with her opinion and thinks that the westernized opposition prospers and will prosper in future. There is man’s photo in the article but woman’s photo is absent. The journalist is a man.  

Women whose opinions are light up in the press perform on themes constrained with elections, on themes of criminality and corruption more seldom. For example, the article: “The basis of      is formed by some chiefs of the police and heads of administration“. Author of the article – a man – has applied to Khoshgedem Bakhshaliyeva as an expert the main redactor of “Uch nogta” newspaper. Her words in subtitle: “Khoshgedem Bakhshaliyeva: “If some officials complained on criminality refused of bribe then we could put an end to the “journalists”, prolonged their way”. Form of the article – interview. The words are passed by direct speech. Woman-expert’s answers are enough courageous, concrete, pointed. There is a little photo of interviewer. However the photo isn’t of the best quality.  The woman’s face isn’t almost seen, head is hardly bent down, and eyes are posted. There is a hand with a microphone before her which evidently belongs to the journalist. It is seen not complete profile of some man. Photo was made apparently at some conference. Light falls on the face, therefore the photo isn’t distinct, not contrast, portrayal is eroded. Photo was made in not successful moment. Further may be noticed women names in the articles devoted to the matters of public health, culture or art, education.  

And at last, speaking about statuses, there isn’t any woman-leader of the highest section in the independent “Baku Khabar” newspaper. At the first place here the leaders of secondary section, at the second – deputies, further the workers of sphere of art and culture or academics. In public newspaper the situation a little different: the leaders of the highest section – 14, employees – 5, the leaders of secondary section – 6, and further the workers of sphere of art and culture or academics.  

What do women– leaders miss from view: 

Ÿ         The offers pulled out by women concerning the settlement of woman problems attract attention with its’ incompletement (The fitting struggle for promotion of women-candidates and collaboration wasn’t watched before municipal elections in this matter);

Ÿ         Women-leaders (deputies) don’t collaborate with woman organizations;

·        Because of lack of the strong woman promotion it is become impossible the realization of pulled out offers;                

·        Women-leaders don’t give fitting importance to collaboration with representatives of the press for support of their ideas; 

·        Women-leaders can’t go out of definite limits of popularity;

·        Woman problems aren’t given attention. Women-leaders want to get rights, but they don’t work in achievement of this aim.

The researches show that women-leaders of Azerbaijan state their problems in social-political life and also in the life of our society. But the appointed deficiences create obstacles on the way of realization of their aims. By this reason the real results aren’t seen until. And namely therefore the support for men part of the offers pulled out by women isn’t watched in the press. Men generally conduct the policy of “silence” with regard to these offers. Protection of women’s rights has a place in the legislative of Azerbaijan Republic as in all international documents too. It gives in its’ turn the cause to men to tell the next words: “women aren’t forced to any discrimination”.

Lighting up these facts in the press our organization has the aim to attract the attention of the society, women once more to these matters. And also our idea is the stirring up of the activity of the society and women-leaders in the direction of settlement of different women problems, which aren’t risen in the press, however take place in our country.

 

  “Tamiz Dunya” (Clean World)  Organization