On 26 June 2026, elections for membership of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) for the 2027–2031 term were held in New York during the 24th Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

In the election, which involved 189 States Parties, Azerbaijan's nominee, international law expert and Doctor of Philosophy in Law Mr. Elgun Safarov, received 133 votes and was re-elected as a member of the CEDAW Committee for a new term.

It should be noted that Mr. Elgun Safarov previously served as a member of the CEDAW Committee from 2019 to 2026. In 2021, during the Committee's 78th session, he was elected Vice-Chair of the Committee. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee's Working Group on Individual Communications.

Mr. Elgun Safarov obtained both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Faculty of International Law and International Relations at Baku State University. He earned his PhD in Law after defending his dissertation entitled "The Activities of the United Nations Security Council in Maintaining International Peace and Security".

He is also an alumnus of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (2008), the Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Programme of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (2009), the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (2010), the joint programme of the International Management Centre and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (2012), the School of International Affairs of ADA University (2014–2015), and the executive leadership programme of the U.S.-based EPAM Systems (2025–2026).

By the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 1 February 2016, he was awarded the "Progress" Medal in recognition of his effective contribution to addressing gender issues and implementing socially oriented policies in Azerbaijan.

Over the past 24 years, he has represented Azerbaijan in the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and other international organizations on issues related to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the promotion of the rights of women and children, international humanitarian law, and other fields.

For many years, Mr. Safarov participated in the work of the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Commission (2007–2018).

He is currently a member of the Expert Council on the Assessment of the Content of Cinematographic, Audiovisual and Digital Works operating under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as a member of the Safe Sport Commission of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.

Mr. Safarov has also taught international law, family law, international humanitarian law, and other subjects at higher education institutions in Azerbaijan and abroad. He is the author of more than 100 scholarly articles and research papers published in Azerbaijani, English, and Russian.

We congratulate Mr.Elgun Safarov on his re-election to this prestigious international body and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.