September 26, 2008

III Congress of Azerbaijani Women opened in Baku

III Congress of Azerbaijani Women was opened at Baku Sport Palace on 26 September.

 

Chairperson of the State Committee on Family, Woman and Child Problems Hijran Huseynova opened the Congress attended by ambassadors of foreign countries to Azerbaijan, delegates of international organizations as well.  

 

The national anthem of Azerbaijan was played.

 

Head of the Humanitarian Policy Affairs Department of the President Office Fatma Abdullazade read our congratulatory letter of President Ilham Aliyev to the Congress participants.

 

Then, the floor was given to First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva. She congratulated the Congress delegates and guests.

 

Specially greeting First Lady of Egypt Suzan Mubarak who is attending the Congress Mehriban Aliyeva expressed confidence the Congress will be fruitful and become an important event in public and political life of Azerbaijan. 

 

She said we are proud of successes women have gained in a number of spheres of life. Women have played great role throughout the history in protection of our culture, native language, religion, traditions, national values in Azerbaijan. Woman, mother has always been much respected in Azerbaijan. Raising their children in spirit of patriotism, kindness, hospitality, tolerance the Azeri women have safeguarded these beautiful features specific to our people. An Azeri woman has passed through very complicated and honorable way.

 

Azerbaijan that established the first democratic republic in the Moslem East gave the women the right of electing and being elected. Azeri women obtained this right much earlier than women of a number of European women. In 1945, only in 30 of 51 countries having founded UN women had the same rights with men.

 

This fact indicates the role of woman in Azerbaijan society, evaluation of democratic values.

 

Later, an Azeri woman gave huge and worthy contributions to culture, science, education and public health of our country.

 

Wider opportunities were opened before women after our country restored independence. Today, Azerbaijan is one the very dynamically developing countries in the world. Azerbaijan is the leader country in the world for rate of economic growth over the past 4 years. This development is observed in all spheres of our life and Azeri women have a big lot in these successes.

 

Noting the most painful problem our nation has faced is the Azerbaijan-Armenia, Daghlig Garabagh conflict Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva said because of the occupant policy of Armenia thousands were killed in our country, 1 million displaced from native land. Living all these tragedies, injustice, terrible difficulties an Azeri woman decently stood this test too. I apply to all mothers, sisters, children of martyrs in Azerbaijan and assure them that no Azerbaijani which has sacrificed itself for the homeland will be forgotten. Their names have been written in the history of Azerbaijan with golden letters and will live forever.

 

The First Lady of Azerbaijan expressed hope the justice will be restored in near future, our lands will be released, territorial integrity restored and all our compatriots will return to native lands.

 

M.Aliyeva mentioned beside successes there are unsolved problems in our society. I think we should together discuss such problems in such congress and look for ways to solve them. Today, I would like to attract your attention to 2 issues that disturb me. The first concerns education. Huge works have been done over the past years in field of education in Azerbaijan. Over 1300 new schools have been built in our country. All schools have been supplied with latest equipment, computers, Internet access, logistics of higher schools is reconstructed. Hundreds of students study at most advanced universities of the world due to the state support. We are much glad for it all, as the biggest wealth of every country is its intellectual potential.

 

In addition, in some regions some families do not let their daughters finish the secondary school. They think education is not so necessary for a girl. I think this is unbearable. We – women should unite in these issues and express our decisive vision.

 

The second issue relates to children trained at children homes and boarding schools. Heydar Aliyev Foundation performs a number of works in this field. We have a special programme in frame of which more than 30 children homes and boarding schools in our country have been reconstructed and equipped with the latest appliances. We always render attention to children at the schools and homes. I have personally visited almost all children homes and boarding schools in our country and very closely know all problems of these children. What alarms me today is that the number of children at children homes and boarding schools is growing. Studies show that majority of these children has parents or one parent at least. Even some families not under so hard material conditions want their children to be trained at a boarding school. I think, it is very exciting fact. Because no children home or boarding school meeting all the requirements can take the place of the family atmosphere, family training. Children, family has for centuries been holy for us – Azerbaijanis. So, I am much worried by these facts.  

 

I apply to you from this rostrum and think that we should try to analyze these issues together and prevent these undesirable tendencies.

 

It is 90 years that the Azeri woman is the full right member of our society. Today, we conduct the policy aiming from equal rights to equal opportunities. I call on all Azerbaijani women to be more active in this way, realize their potential and say their word in the society.

 

Summing up her speech Mehriban Aliyeva said: I again cordially congratulate the participants of the Congress on this holiday. I wish family happiness, good health, happiness and success to all the Azerbaijani women, Azerbaijani ladies. I sincerely congratulate you on upcoming Ramadan Holiday. Taking the opportunity I want to mention in my action I always feel your attention, concern and support. I express you my deep gratitude, respect and deep love for this.

 

X X X

 

Then, working bodies of the Congress – secretariat, mandatory and editorial commissions were elected.

 

Video appeals by CEO of UN Population Fund, Deputy Secretary General of UN Mrs Toraya Ahmad Ubeydin and Deputy Secretary General of CE Mrs Bukikkio to the Congress were read out, film ‘State woman policy in Azerbaijan’ shown.

 

Then, Chairperson of the State Committee on Family, Woman and Child Problems Hijran Huseynova made a report.

 

She expressed gratitude on behalf of Azerbaijani women to President Ilham Aliyev for the letter of congratulation.

 

Noting about 51% of population in the country is women H.Huseynova said basic principles of state woman policy in Azerbaijan were determined by national leader Heydar Aliyev. In all times of his leadership in Azerbaijan he paid special attention to the woman policy. Woman congresses were held in independent Azerbaijan just on his initiative.

 

She stressed very important changes have taken place in all spheres in the country since the second congress of Azeri women. Noting important role of women in these successes the speaker provided facts characterizing role and place of women in Azerbaijan society, emphasized great services of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and its President, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

 

Chairperson of the Committee said we cannot be pleased of successes gained. Actions must be taken to involve professionals to solve woman problems, lift level of participation of women in power and administration. Our duty is to achieve strengthening of leadership position of our women, fully realizing their potential as full right member of society.

 

She underlined local woman conferences were held in all districts and cities on the eve of the Congress. Successes were mentioned in the conferences, problems were discussed. On the eve of the Congress, women representing entrepreneur, lawyer, creative, NGO organizations were held, their proposals and opinions studied.

Domestic violence, woman traffic, women rights violation is of great importance today among the women problems in the world. Unfortunately, such cases exist in our country too, even if they are less. Garabagh war, difficulties of transition period have caused some negative cases not specific to our society. It is linked mainly to the fact that people do not know their rights and have difficulty in getting adapted to new market economy. Our duty is to help people find adequate way to get out of these situations. Therefore, our state and authorities have strengthened attention to these problems. Works done in this field are under control of the President’s Office, the Cabinet and all corresponding state structures.

 

NGOs and international organizations are also active in settlement of these problems.

 

There are up to 90 women NGOs in the country. Multilateral support from the leadership of the state to development of civic society has brought to expansion of the net of NGOs. On this point, decree signed on December 2007 on creation of the Board of State Support to NGOs by the President is of great significance. One of directions of the Board’s action covers family, woman and child issues and this is the sign of special attention of state to this sphere.

 

The rapporteur talked of international relations too. According to her, support from international organizations, specially UN Population Fund, UNICEF, UNIFEM, CE plays important role in implementation of multilateral actions by the Committee. In 2006, Azerbaijan was elected co-chair of the Gender and Economy Project Working Group in frame of the UN Special Programme for Economies of Central Asia Countries, the 7th European Ministers Conference of CE for equality between women and men will be held in Baku in 2010.

 

Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Committee and UN Population Fund execute project ‘Against violence to women in XXI century’.

 

Ending her report Hijran Huseynova noted the present position of Azeri women in society is the result of trouble of their previous generations. We should continue this process, take it ahead. Professionalism, activity of Azerbaijani women must meet the requirements of present time and this demands purposeful action, action plan. No woman should stay beyond this process.

 

We believe after this congress Azeri women will be more active, their role will significantly increase in public, socio-economic, cultural and moral life of the country.

 

Afterwards, children of Boarding School 3 in Khatai district and the Mushfig Disabled Children Aid Public Union greeted the Congress’s participants, presented keepsakes to first ladies Mehriban Aliyeva of Azerbaijan and Suzanne Mubarak of Egypt.

 

In the break, the Congress’s participants saw an exhibition in the lobby.

 

Then, videophone connection was arranged with regions. Reps of women organizations of Mingachevir, Ganca, Tovuz, Kalbajar, Sheki, Khachmaz, Lankaran and Barda greeted the Congress’s participants and wished them success.

 

Discussions began after the report of the mandatory commission was delivered.

 

Milli Majlis Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova, Rector of Baku Branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Director of UNS Creativity Stage, Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Elmira Suleimanova, Deputy Chairperson of Constitutional Court Sona Salmanova, Chairperson of State Student Admission Commission Meleyke Abbaszade, Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, academician Naila Velikhanly, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Sevinj Hasanova, Director of Nakhchyvan Medical School Ilhame Mustafayeva, Rector of Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University, Professor Gulchohra Mammadova, Chairperson of America-Azerbaijan Society Tomris Azeri, Chairperson of Azerbaijan Composers Union, People’s Artist Firangiz Alizade and others addressed the Congress.

 

Then, reps of Ireli Youth Movement congratulated the participants. 

 

Delegates of the Congress adopted appeals to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, UN, CE and other influential international organizations, a resolution of the Congress as well.

 

Chairperson of the State Committee on Family, Woman and Child Problems Hijran Huseynova summed up the Congress.

 

Then, a concert was given.

 

Thus, III Congress of Azerbaijani Women ended.