 |
In Azerbaijan that acceded to the UN Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women women’s rights
are often violated by their family members. The studies show that women
are killed by their husbands or family members. Under the survey, 22.9 per
cent of domestic violence was committed between parents and children, but
12 per cent – between sister and brother. The conflict between wife and
husband happens quite often. 60-70 per cent of domestic violence occurs
right in front of minors and teenagers.
It is very surprising that
those who arrested for the said crimes were not ashamed of blaming the
women whom they killed. A majority of those who arrested for the killing
of their sister or wife ground their deeds on the dissoluteness of their
victims, thereby justifying their crimes. In deed, later on their
statements about dissoluteness of their victims fail.
Today 252
women-prisoners are kept in penal jurisdiction 4. According to the State
Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, the majority of them
committed crime after violence. 60 of them have been arrested for the
crime of forethought. Furthermore, women-prisoners are not allowed to meet
with their children or are forgotten by their relatives. When they are
released from prison, they cannot find job for themselves, as no employer
will recruit former prisoner.
Moreover, domestic violence quite often
causes divorce. Under surveys, over 50 per cent of women subjected to
violence do not confess that. If in 2004 there were 6900 divorces, in 2005
it reached 8900. Last year 7800 divorces have been fixed. Comparing with
2005 this figure is less than 1000.
Recently early marriages occur
frequently particularly in southern of the country. As early marriage is
not registered, it causes problems for society. Actually, under Family
Code women at the age of 17 and men at the age of 18 can marry. But the
Family Code has one exception. In some cases it is possible to decrease
age limit up to one year. The number of those who marry at an early age is
growing year by year. As a result of that the number of minors among
domestic violence victims is growing, which causes divorce. As a whole,
one of the reasons of the domestic violence and divorce is a lack of baby,
in which women are blamed quite often. Every time women are blamed of the
sterility, but sterility is wide-spread among men. Recent social and
economic and environment problems cause the increasing of sterility among
men.
One of the negative tendencies in the country is that Azerbaijanis
living in Russia and married with other nationals return home and marry
with very young girls from poor families namely. The strangers also marry
with poor girls. Actually to marry with minors is a crime. According to
Article 152-153 of the Criminal Code, those who forced minors to intimacy
can be sentenced to 2-3 years of imprisonment term. That’s why to escape
from the responsibility they marry with minors. The head of Women Crisis
Centre Matanat Azizova notes that despite a majority of women are
subjected to domestic violence, they are afraid of to address to police.
On the other hand, those who lodged complaint to police are not welcomed
by police and others. No comments…
In any society regardless of their
material, social and public status women are subjected to sexual,
psychological and economic violence, and also degrading and
ill-treatment.
The early marriage creates one more problem especially
in divorce, as kabin, i.e. religious marriage has no validity. Because of
lack of the official document about marriage, it is impossible to protect
women’s rights, i.e. their rights to property.
Today violence and
threats against a lot of Azerbaijani women is daily reality. There are a
lot of victims suffered from physical, psychological, sexual violence,
early marriage and trafficking in persons. Because of the lack of reliable
official or public backing a majority of violence victims prefer to keep
silence. The women, who need moral and psychological help, are not
accepted even by their relatives.
Member of Parliament Gular Ahmadova
considers importance to make amendments to legislation. “Those, who used
violence against women, should know that this is considered to be a crime
and they would be punished for that. Public awareness raising that should
be held among women and men, is of importance for the tackling of the
problem,” said G. Ahmedova.
Head of the State Committee for Family,
Women and Children’s Affairs Hijran Huseynova regards medical checkup of
young people before marriage as importance. It can save young families
from the consequences – disable children, family violence, divorce and
infectious diseases.
Moreover, some people consider marriage contract
for the protection of women’s right is of importance. This is very
important for the ensuring woman’s economic self-sufficiency and
children.
2007-05-24 |