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Direct Link to the HUMAN RIGHTS
CENTER OF AZERBAIJAN ALTERNATIVE REPORT TO THE CEDAW COMMITTEE 44th SESSION
REVIEW OF AZERBAIJAN:
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FIDH - International Federation for
Human Rights
UN CEDAW COMMITTEE CALLS ON
AZERBAIJAN TO
ADDRESS WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN
The Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women, a United Nations monitoring body composed of
independent experts, has called on the Government of Azerbaijan to adopt
measures to end serious discrimination and violence against women.
In
July 2009, the Committee examined the situation of women in Azerbaijan and
measures taken by the government in accordance with obligations under the
Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW Convention). The Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan (HRCA), with the
support of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), submitted a
report to the Committee’s experts, documenting numerous violations including:
persistent violence against women, widespread trafficking of women and girls,
severe under-representation of women in political and public life and obstacles
to access to employment and health services. These concerns are largely
reflected in the recommendations of the Committee.
Violence
against women:
The Committee expressed deep concern at the prevalence of violence perpetrated
against women and girls in Azerbaijan and the persistent failure by the
Government to enact a law sanctioning domestic violence. The Committee noted
that “such violence appears to be at times socially legitimized by a culture of
silence and impunity and is socially accepted”. The Committee called on
Azerbaijan to accelerate the adoption of the draft Law on domestic violence and
to ensure that victims of violence have access to redress and protection.
The
Committee also expressed serious concern about the growth in trafficking in
women and girls in Azerbaijan and urged the Government to systematically
investigate, prosecute and punish traffickers and to ensure the rehabilitation
and social integration of victims of trafficking, including through the
establishment of additional shelters for victims.
Early
marriage:
The Committee expressed concern at the persistence of early and unregistered
religious marriages in Azerbaijan and urged the Government to work with
religious authorities in order to prevent early marriages and to ensure that
all marriages are properly registered. The Committee called on Azerbaijan to
enact an amendment to the Family Code which would increase the minimum legal
age for marriage of women (currently 17 years) to 18 years in accordance with
the minimum age for men.
The
Azerbaijan Government delegation informed the Committee that the draft reform
of the Family Code and the draft Law on domestic violence would be considered
by Parliament before the end of the year. “We urge the Government to keep to
this deadline. We have waited long enough for these reforms which are essential
to reduce violence against women and girls”, stated Zaliha Tahirova, HRCA.
Representation
of women in decision-making: The Committee expressed its concern at the
“very low participation of women in political and public life”, especially
their “severe under-representation” in decision-making bodies, and called for
the urgent adoption of temporary special measures such as quotas.
Access
to employment and health services: The Committee expressed concern at the high
unemployment rate of women, the concentration of women in lower-paying sectors
and the persistence of the wage gap, “which remains very wide in certain
industries”. The Committee urged Azerbaijan to ensure de facto equal
opportunities at all levels for women in the labour market and to adopt
measures allowing for reconciliation of family and professional
responsibilities, including provision of affordable childcare.
Finally,
the Committee expressed “grave concern” about the high and increasing rate of
maternal mortality and the insufficient access to adequate general health-care
services and reproductive health-care services for women. It called on the
Government to prioritize decreasing maternal mortality rates by providing
adequate delivery services and prenatal care to all women.
FIDH
and HRCA call on the Azerbaijan government to disseminate these recommendations
widely to all relevant ministries and to Parliament, and to the general public.
“Full implementation of the measures identified by the Committee is essential
to improve the situation of women in Azerbaijan. FIDH together with HRCA will
follow up on implementation of all recommendations the Azerbaijan government”,
concluded Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President.
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