On October 26, 2023, Mrs.Aynur Sofiyeva, the Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children's Issues, met with Shyba Harma, the regional adviser on gender issues of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The meeting was held to discuss gender issues in the child protection system.

Mrs. Aynur Sofiyeva, the Deputy Chair noted that the long-term cooperation between the State Committee and UNICEF has been successfully continued. She specifically evaluated the cooperation in the direction of the implementation of the "Action Plan for the Implementation of the Children's Strategy for 2020-2025" and pointed out that joint activities are being carried out to ensure the implementation of children's rights in all areas. Recalling the committee's state report on CEDAW and CRC, A. Sofiyeva said that the measures implemented based on the final recommendations are being continued today. The Deputy Chair pointed out that the gender aspect is one of the main points in the activity of the Committee in the direction of protecting children's rights, and spoke about the work done in the direction of support for girls' education, early marriage, combating sex selection of children before birth, and implemented projects. Later, she gave information about the projects implemented by the Committee within the framework of the "Great Return" program, as well as talked about the work to be done dealing with families and children who will return to the lands liberated from occupation.

Appreciating the cooperation with the committee, Mrs.Shyba Harma, UNICEF's regional adviser on gender issues, said that the organization attaches importance to cooperation in the direction of gender equality. She said that UNICEF, which cooperates with 23 countries in the region, is involved in all processes for ensuring children's rights in Azerbaijan. After that, S. Harma voiced proposals regarding the organization's support to Azerbaijan in the direction of the implementation of the "Action Plan for the Implementation of the Children's Strategy for 2020-2025". She also expressed the hope that the measures envisaged in the draft document of the "Strategy for Early Childhood Development" will contribute to the work of ensuring gender equality in the child protection system.

At the meeting, Jamila Bagirova, head of the Children's Affairs Department of the State Committee, Zahida Israfilova, an employee of the Foreign Relations and Protocol Service Department, Khumar Ilgargizi, an employee of the Women's and Gender Affairs Department, Aysel Babayeva, an employee of the Analytical Analysis and Information Assurance Department, and Vugar Salmanov, the head of UNICEF's Child Protection Program, attended the meeting. Ulviyya Guliyeva, the coordinator for gender issues also participated at the meeting.