Steering Committee Meeting on Twinning project “Strengthening the capacity of State bodies and local level referral mechanisms to provide safety and support to victims of domestic violence in Azerbaijan” was held with the participation of Mrs. Sadagat Gahramanova, Deputy Chairperson  of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Egli Radisauskieni, Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labor of Lithuania, representatives of the European Union, Lithuania and the Republic of Austria.

Mrs. Sadagat Gahramanova noted that the Committee is already implementing the second Twinning project. The previous “Twinning” project entitled “Capacity Building for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Families, Women and Children” covered the years 2011-2013 implemented jointly with the Ministry the Solidarity and Social Union of the French Republic and the financial support of the European Union.

Giving information about the restrictions on the COVID-19 pandemic in all countries and the military situation in recent weeks, Mrs. Sadagat Gahramanova said: “Today, our republic is experiencing a difficult historical period. the Armenian armed forces intensively fired on Azerbaijani local settlements, administrative buildings, medical centers, social facilities, educational institutions with large-caliber artillery, and various types of weapons. The victims of the provocative acts committed by the Armenian side are mostly civilians - children, women and the elderly. On October 11, 2020, at around 2 am, the civilian population was deliberately killed and wounded as a result of heavy artillery and rocket fire by the Armenian armed forces in the city of Ganja, located outside the frontline.

During her speech, the Deputy Chairperson informed about the planned measures to be implemented within the Twinning project on three main components (creation of the National Directive Mechanism for Victims of Domestic Violence, legal and psychological assistance to victims of domestic violence and Rehabilitation Program for perpetrators).