On December 28, a board meeting was held on the activities of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs in 2020.

The meeting was held in an online format and reports on the activities carried out during the current year and the work done were heard at the meeting. The meeting was attended by employees of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, representatives of 11 Child and Family Support Centers operating under the Committee, as well as members of the Public Council.

In her introductory speech, Mrs. Bahar Muradova, the Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs noted that the 2020 will be remembered as a year full of difficulties, contradictions and equally important. She noted that a serious basis has been created for the continuation of the achievements in the next year.

In particular, the chair of the Committee said that this year was an important year for the victory of the Great Patriotic War and important tasks had been identified during this period. The Committee worked closely with the war-affected population, including the families of the martyrs, and the people living near the line of contact. Representatives of the committee visited the places, regions, met with our compatriots who were forced to leave their homes, assessed the situation and determined the steps to be taken.

Touching upon the importance of informing the public about the work done, she said that the Committee regularly informs the public about its activities, but also ensures control over a number of issues of concern to society, especially in social networks and the media. Noting the importance of cooperation with non-governmental organizations, the chair of the Committee stressed the close involvement of shelters, support centers in the provision of emergency and urgent assistance.

Noting the progress has been made in improving the legal framework of the Committee, the Chair of the Committee said that several important documents were adopted this year and these documents will allow us to shape and move forward in a more concrete and expedient way.

Later in her speech Mrs. Ramila Seyidova, the chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic informed about the state care in the autonomous republic which covers families, women and children as a result of successful socio-economic policy implemented in our country.

Noting the special attention and care paid to the protection of children's health, education and training in the Autonomous Republic, Mrs. R. Seyidova brought to attention the monitoring that was organized in connection with the protection of children's rights, measures were taken to strengthen social protection of children deprived of parental care.

Mrs. Jeyran Rahmatullayeva, the Chief of Staff of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, provided information on the work done by the Committee, the conferences and trainings organized during 2020 on the implementation of women's and children's policy, ensuring gender equality, protection of children's rights and Work Plan for the first half of 2021. She stressed that all measures were taken in accordance with the quarantine rules announced in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs. J. Rahmatullayeva noted that, in accordance with Article 20 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Ensuring Gender Equality" dated October 10, 2006, an information was prepared and published by the Committee and a new project was launched to combat gender-based violence.

She also provided information on large-scale actions and awareness-raising events in various fields by the Committee and its 11 Child and Family Support Centers (CFSC) operating under the fighting against COVID-19 pandemic campaign.

Mrs. Sadagat Gahramanova, the Deputy Chair of the Committee made a report on the establishment of working groups on the implementation of the "National Action Plan to Combat Domestic Violence in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2020-2023", noting that the State Committee acts as a coordinating body.

Mrs. Aynur Sofiyeva, Deputy Chairman of the Committee made a report on the establishment of a working group on the implementation of the "Action Plan for 2020-2025 on the implementation of the Strategy for Children”, approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 27, 2020 No. 2306. She said that the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs was instructed to coordinate the implementation of the measures envisaged in the Action Plan, as well as to inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan once a year on the progress of their implementation. She noted that as a coordinating body, the Committee will monitor and regularly evaluate the Action Plan and establish a "Working Group to improve the regulatory framework and institutional structure in the field of child protection."

Then Mrs. Taliya Ibrahimova, the head of the Legal Department of the Committee gave information about the amendments on the Decision of the Board of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs "On approval of the regulations of the structural units of the Office of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan" No. 49-4 dated July 09, 2018, which was made to establish a "Public Relations" sector.

Suggestions and recommendations on the issues on the agenda were voiced and discussions were held during the board meeting. Members of the Public Council – Mrs. Alimammad Nuriyev, President of the Foundation for Constitutional Studies, Mrs. Mehriban Zeynalova, Chairperson of the Clean World Women's Aid Public Union, Mrs. Rena Mirzazadeh, Chairperson of the Gender and Human Rights Research Association noted the importance of cooperation between state and civil society institutions and made their suggestions.

At the end, Mrs. Bahar Muradova, the Chair of the Committee made a closing speech and gave relevant instructions on the future activities of the Committee.

In the end, the board of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs made decisions on the topics on the agenda of the board meeting.