The 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was held in Geneva, Swiss Confederation, the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis told APA.
Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova, spoke at the event attended by approximately 350 delegates, including Women Speakers from 29 countries and Women Leaders of several international organisations, and underlined the significance of the Summit. She emphasised that whilst the world faces a range of conflicts, wars and humanitarian crises, women find themselves in a particularly perilous position. According to her, in many quarters, women suffer from violence, forced displacement and loss of access to social protection means, education, healthcare and protection opportunities. Additionally, conflicts over the years deepen existing gender inequalities, negating achievements in the field of women’s rights. It was noted that women lose not only their physical safety but also opportunities to realise their agency as full participants in public and political life.
Saying that women in Azerbaijan are well acquainted with this bitter reality, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis recalled that in the early 1990s, the occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijan’s territories by neighbouring Armenia resulted not only in the complete ravaging of these territories but also in ethnic cleansing, forced population displacement and a humanitarian crisis, with approximately 1 million compatriots becoming refugees and internally displaced persons consequently. According to the Speaker’s words, 52 per cent of those people were girls and women. Those women had lost their homes, families and security.
Bringing up the fact that in 1918 Azerbaijan, ahead of most European countries, granted women the right to vote, Sahiba Gafarova added that our country is committed to ensuring women’s rights and their active participation in all facets of public life. It was noted that those women who were formerly internally displaced persons and refugees are not an exception in this regard.
The Speaker of the Milli Majlis said that Azerbaijan has been implementing measures for the restoration of territories liberated from occupation and the return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands since restoring her territorial integrity in 2020. Today, more than 50,000 people live, work and get education in those territories. Women play an active role in building socio-economic infrastructure, the operation of educational and medical institutions, sustainable development and the implementation of initiatives for the reclamation of the cultural heritage in the territories liberated from occupation.
Additionally, stating that the draft 'National Action Plan on Gender Equality' under consideration currently reflects the employment of women returning to territories liberated from occupation, the enhancement of their digital skills, the conduct of research to identify their needs and other issues, Sahiba Gafarova pointed the 1.5 million mines planted by Armenia up as remaining the primary obstacle to the work being carried out. Azerbaijani women also participate in the measures for demining territories, which require the involvement of significant human and financial resources.
Concluding her address Speaker Sahiba Gafarova reiterated that sustainable peace cannot be built without the participation of women, despite all the hurdles. Women's active engagement in the processes not only provides for mitigation of the risks of violence but also ensures a solid foundation for lasting development.
