UNO Baku teams up with national partners in addressing the issues
of
Early Marriages and Gender-based Violence
A UN-initiated roundtable debate on early marriage and gender-based violence was conducted in Lenkaran, near the Azerbaijani southern border with Iran on 5 May 2011. The discussion took place within a series of advocacy and information exchange events that are taking place in rural areas of Azerbaijan.
The roundtable was led by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs of Azerbaijan, supported by the office of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN office (UNO) and several other UN agencies, with the intention of raising awareness of the situation and to stimulate positive actions for change in the lives of potential victims of gender-based violence and early marriages.
The advocacy event was opened by Ms. Sadagat Gahramanova, Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, Mr. Fikret Akcura, UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Hadi Rajabli, Chairperson of the Parliament Committee on Social Policy, and Mr. Tofig Ibrahimov, Head of the Lenkaran Rayon Executive Power. Programme representatives from UNFPA, UNICEF, and UNHCR made presentations highlighting the nature and magnitude of the prevalence of gender-based violence, including the IDP communities, and early (child) marriages in Azerbaijan as well as responses by national partners, UN agencies and other development partners.
The discussion also brought together officials from education and public health sectors, the law enforcement structure, and Imam Sadi Akhundzade representing the regional office of the Caucasus Muslims. The participants were reminded that, according to a joint qualitative assessment of the early marriage situation in Azerbaijan conducted recently by UNICEF Azerbaijan and the State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, the early marriage phenom¬enon not only takes place, but is increasing in some of the regions of Azerbaijan.
The presentations were followed by interactive discussions and concluded with recommendations for actions, including community-based advocacy efforts, public awareness oriented programmes, especially for men, aimed at promoting gender equitable relationships and behavior change.
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UNO Baku on Child Marriages
May 11, 2011 by
