On December 20, 2022 the Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Bahar Muradova made a speech at the plenary session of the Milli Mejlis with the information on ensuring gender equality in 2021.

During her speech, Bahar Muradova, talking about the work done in 2021, noted that the past year went down in the history of our people as a stage of the beginning of comprehensive reconstruction and construction after the Patriotic War.

She said that the large-scale projects to be implemented within the " State program for great return" will create conditions for the rapid revival of the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, sustainable population settlement and sustained economic activity.
She stated that the plan to establish the Lachin Community Resource Center, Fizuli and Zangiland Family Centers will help ensure that our compatriots who will return to these regions will be surrounded by attention and care.She mentioned that the establishment of the Lachin Community Resource Center, Fizuli and Zangiland Family Centers will help ensure that our compatriots who will return to these areas will be surrounded by state attention and care.

In concluding observations presented by the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2022 on the 6th Periodic Report of the Government of Azerbaijan, she highlighted the progress made in improving national legislation in our country, and the advancement in promoting gender equality.

It was noted that one of the proposals initiated by the State Committee to improve the legislation in 2021 was the establishment of the right to unpaid paternity leave.

Another issue was related to the revision of the list of jobs, where the use of female labor was prohibited, and bringing norms into conformity with international instruments, in connection with which the relevant amendments to the Labor Code were adopted.

Muradova noted that in 2021 important steps were taken to develop the necessary tools and mechanisms to ensure gender equality in Azerbaijan.
Particular attention has been paid to the creation of Child and Family Support Centers in the regions. President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva inaugurated the new building of the Child and Family Support Centre in Ismailli.

In order to strengthen women's representation in local elected bodies in 2021, trainings on various topics were conducted for representatives of gender commissions established in municipalities. Last year, activities of women's resource centers were expanded, new Women's Resource Centers were established in Goychay and Tovuz districts, and Community Resource Centers were created in Fizuli, Tartar and Aghjabedi districts.

It was noted that during the reporting period, the State Committee further expanded its activities in the media and ICT resources. The " Parental supervision and Internet safety" resource was reactivated. A special " Domestic Violence" section was created on the State Committee's website and the "860" hotline was added. In addition, last year in collaboration with international and local partners numerous projects were implemented, seminars, trainings, online meetings and webinars were held.