Sustainable development of the Azerbaijan and gender equality
In Azerbaijan by initiative of the President llham Aliev in accordance
with Presidential Decree dated by 6 of February 2006 State Committee on family,
women and children has been established. Chairwoman of the Committee Mrs.
Khidjran Guseynova gave interview to the co-editor of the magazine Women's
Appeal for Peace, Mrs. Elena Kasumova
Dear Khidjran hanum! On behalf of the South Caucasus Coalition Women for
Peace please accept our sincere greetings and wishes of fruitful work on such a
responsible state position. You are the first woman - doctor of political science and you have been
appointed for chairmanship of such an important state authority, as State
Committee on family, women and children. How do you think, whether position of
women in the society serves as one of the indicators of the political image of
the state at the international scene?
Naturally,
states, and Azerbaijan in particular, are very sensitive to the opinion of the
international community on the issue. There are committees in the world, which
are in charge of support of women and family development. Domains of their
activities are very much similar and differences in titles rest with national
mentality. For example in Italy there is Ministry of equal opportunities. This
title reflects European trend to ensure gender balance in the society and this
direction is traditionally very important. Let's say that in many European
countries such kind of structures have titles which contain words
"gender" "family" "children" We decided not to
use term "gender" as far as it is not yet fully accepted by all, but
in the meantime it is impossible to imagine contemporary politics without
gender perspective. That is why real political processes taking place in
Azerbaijan caused creation of such mechanism, which will promote development of
family, women and children. Till now many functions in this vitally important
sphere have been distributed between different ministries. It does not mean that
we will compete with somebody, but we will be in charge of the coordination.
Social perception of the women's and men's roles - gender - becomes one of the
leading factors of the society consolidation. Social integration prescribes
negotiation of the inequality, justified by difference of social functions
which should be evaluated and awarded in different way.
Stable movement of our republic towards civil society and state with
rule of law puts spotlight on the different social problems related exactly
with gender development. Informal but rather clear determined division of
occupations on those "for men" and "for women" still exists
in the republic, which as additional source of social contradictions.
Nevertheless women's rights are violated mainly men also appeared to be
subjected to the inequality.
Existing gender asymmetry of the social roles exercises discriminative
influence not only on women but also on men. Affiliation of women with private
sphere and men with public leads to estrangement of men from the family in some
regard promoting labor migration as likely way out of difficulties. As a
result society itself ends up loosing as far as socially active part of the
population leaves republic while family mode and relationships are subjected to
the severe trials, if not speaking about issue of proliferation which result in
serious demographic problems.
Traditional gender stereotypes are strong enough in our society, but I
should underline that we are not exception. Nevertheless Western societies
have long standing traditions of democracy, woman there also should be 3-4
times more professional than man in order to take part in the decision-making
at the high level. In Europe people already became aware that presence of the
high qualified women leads to dynamical and harmonious social development.
Women have better adaptive capabilities. This fact we could see on the example
of our country, when manty men, especially oldsters, were not able to find
their bearings under conditions if the market economy, but women are granted
by nature with awareness that she is in charge of her children maintenance and
that is why she is ready to take any kind of work. Our women manage to survive
in the toughest situations and our overall objective is to lighten their life.
But Constitution and legislation of Azerbaijan declare equality between
men and women. Is there any necessity in further improvement in the given
sphere?
There are many laws adopted right up to the Presidential
Decree on implementation of the state women policy. However mechanisms of legal
acts realization are weak. We need to perfect practice of interaction of the
existing legislative frame and mechanism of its implementation.
How do you plan to improve situation?
Contemporary trends related to the gender mainstreaming define strategy
of the Sate Committee, outline socially valuable priorities. Among them, of
course, balancing of the opportunities to access those occupations stimulating
stable development of the country and ensure social integration of men and
women along with strengthening of the family, which is traditionally respected
in Azerbaijan.
Complicated work in many directions lies ahead. According to the
statistics, significant part of the population is socially vulnerable. To the
certain extent this fact is related to the transformation period we experience
currently and as a result wide range of problems towards which women and
children are the most unprotected. Especially it refers to those residing on
the zone of the armed conflict and refugees. We will develop specific bills
and submit them to the Parliament. Investments are necessary. It was also
planned to create analytical center which will accumulate information and
process data on the issue. On this scientific basis we are going to forecast
gender situation, elaborate measures and recommendations to the government of
the country.
We are also planning gender expertise of the bills. It is also necessary
to check acting legislation with regard to gender perspective.
Do you consider cooperation with CSOs?
In Azerbaijan civil sector accumulated solid potential. I am acquainted
well with women's movement of the country and consider that women organizations
need extension of the "coverage zones" of the public policy, which is
necessary component of the civil society. It is well known that without
participation of the public politics is impossible. Activities of the CSOs in
many respects should rest upon domestic resources and that is why CSOs should
turn face upon state. Of course we will cooperate with developed CSOs with high
level of expertise. As far as we plan discussion of the need in wider
participation of women in the decision-making to be carried out both at the
state and non-state levels.
Would you be so kind to define at least one gender related problem in
the exploring of which CSOs could be involved?
For example today we need seriously investigate problem of the early
marriages spread in the South of the country. Inn the past early marriages in
the Azerbaijan considered to be norm, but currently they mainly result out
social insecurity and nobody is interested whether girls is ready to such
changes in her life.
You draw exciting perspectives, but what kind of power will enjoy
Committee?
Currently structural changes are carried out and committee charter is
prepared where spheres of our responsibility and power will be reflected. Our
recommendations are not going to be simple proposals, they should be followed
by the corresponding reaction of the authorities.
Do you mean national bodies?
Both national and local. We are planning to create our focal points in
the regions. And we also plan to involve CSOs to this work.
Is problem of domestic violence topical for our country?
If judge basing on statistics situation in Azerbaijan is not worst in
this regard, in many European countries situation with violence is much worse.
But it is not because it is verity, it caused by the fact that in European
society human being is first of all personality ready to protect own rights.
People there are not embarrassed to apply for help to the law enforcement. Our
women try to keep silence about such accidents in the family. Maybe it is
resulted of traditions. But humiliation could not be estimated as good
tradition any way.
Our predecessor - Committee on the women's issues put significant
attention to the problem. The most important id to involve corresponding
authorities to the resolution of the problem, e.g. Ministry of Justice,
Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of Interior Affairs etcetera. Many experts from
UN and OSCE and other international agencies carried out special trainings for
the stuff of the mentioned above structures, in order to shape right perception
of the domestic violence. Woman subjected to the domestic violence is not able
to be normal mother, as far as she bares negative energy, which is transmitted
to the child. Hence, we receive unhealthy, insecure generation.
Which concrete measures will be taken for women's development?
Currently in Azerbaijan we have situation when in
certain families only women earn money. Especially it is topical in rural
areas, many men leave seeking job opportunities and many of them do not return.
Women should be ensured with possibility to earn money, to be economically
independent and many problems will be solved. Finding herself alone 40-45 years
old woman feels herself completely helpless. Women need assistance in capacity
of training, consultative services and motivation for development. Our
Committee is planning to carry out special vocational courses for them.
You have already stressed upon importance of the family values. What is
planned to support family?
Support of young families will serve as priority, as far as they are
extremely vulnerable. Better access for real estate landing, high payments for
baby-minding should become reality and young professionals will not seek job
opportunities abroad. Young family is not only concern of the state, it is our
future which define condition of Azerbaijan on the third Millennium.
Three years ago you were the first coordinator of the Coalition 1325
meeting. What can you say about the Coalition now?
I
think that Coalition demonstrates specific activity in the creation of the
civil society. Representatives of different political parties, state
structures and civil society are united within this structure. One of the
successful initiatives of the Coalition is without no doubt creation of the IDP
Women Network, drawing attention of the Azeri public to the problem of the
equal rights and opportunities. I am sure that Coalition will achieve more!
AGIC promotes creating the history of civil society and those initiations by studying womanవblic activity in the end of XIX - the beginning of XX centuries. The collection of the visual evidences and oral reminiscences allows not only to recalled the events, become utterly absorbed in the atmosphere that reigned at that time but also to comprehend, understand how and what efforts were demanded for establishing of Caucasus womenghts. The information collected here will serve also as a supporting material for teachers, historians and researchers working in the sphere of womand gender problems. They will get an opportunity of using these unique documents as historical references, visual and oral evidences.
In Azerbaijan by initiative of the President Ilham Aliev in accordance with Presidential Decree dated by 6 of February 2006 State Committee on Family, Women and Children issues has been established. Chairwoman of the Committee is Mrs. Khidjran Guseynova. She is the professor of the Baku State University and the first woman- the doctor of political sciences in Azerbaijan