The State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan
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Bahar Muradova met with students who successfully completed volunteering activities within the Family Volunteers program
Welcoming the participants, Bahar Muradova noted the benefits of volunteering for young people, including the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills and broaden their perspectives. The Committee Chair highlighted the success of the "Family Volunteers" program that has been implemented since 2021. She praised the Committee's volunteers for their active involvement in the volunteer organization's programs and their exceptional performance. She also stressed that the volunteers' active participation in the Committee's activities would enhance their career choices. It was noted that volunteers have gained experience and the right to participate in national and international processes taking place in our country. During the high-level conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku, Bahar Muradova highlighted the significant contribution of volunteers to the event's activities. Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee, Aynur Sofiyeva, expressed her appreciation for the volunteers who initiated projects on current issues and expressed her confidence that alumni volunteers would continue to actively participate in the Committee's activities. In turn, the volunteers emphasized the importance of volunteering in terms of gaining experience and expressed their gratitude for the conditions created. The meeting concluded with discussions, and the youth who had successfully completed their volunteer activities were presented with certificates.
Members of the Public Council under the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs had a meeting with the Head of the Department for the Organization of Preventive Work with Minors, along with the staff of the department from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
During the meeting, participants discussed child rights, including child marriages and the exploitation of child labor. They also discussed domestic violence and other issues related to mutual cooperation.
Awareness-raising meetings were held on "Negative consequences of early marriages and marriages between relatives"
Jointly organised by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs and the Baku City Education Department, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education, the meetings were held with senior pupils of secondary schools #290 and #118 located in Surakhani district of Baku. During the meetings, Samra Aliyeva, an employee of the Family Affairs Department of the State Committee, made a presentation and informed students about the consequences of early marriages and marriages between relatives, the existing legislation and the policy implemented in this direction in our country.It was noted that it is very important for teenagers and young people to be active and not to remain indifferent to the solution of existing problems in society. The principals of secondary schools No. 290 and No. 118 emphasised the relevance of the topic and noted the importance of educational meetings in the development of the younger generation. During the meetings, which were held in the format of discussion, students expressed their opinions on the topic.
Ms. Bahar Muradova visited Goranboy Child and Families Support Center during her visit to Goranboy district
The chairperson of the committee looked at the conditions of active therapy, psychologist, communication therapy, individual training, social work, association, training, conference rooms and received information about the services provided to the population. It should be noted that such centers operate in 11 districts under the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs and the main direction of these Centers' activities is to conduct social work with families from the risk group in the community. Thus, the activities of the centers include preventing children from entering boarding schools, avoiding education, early marriage, domestic violence, examining the problems of adolescents and children at a dangerous age, conducting psychological work with them, organizing free time for children and adolescents, and preventive measures related to other social problems. as well as educational activities. Ms, Bahar Muradova drew attention to the relevant recommendations in the direction of further improvement of the Center's work, further increase of women's employment, support of families from the risk group.
Ms. Bahar Muradova received the citizens of Goranboy district
The appeals of residents of Naftalan city, Goranboy and Khojaly regions were heard On March 13, 2024, at the reception held by the heads of central executive authorities according to the schedule of reception of citizens in cities and regions. Before the reception, bouquets of flowers were placed in front of the monument of National leader Heydar Aliyev, and his dear memory was commemorated with respect. At the meeting held with the participation of the head of the relevant structural department of the State Committee, citizens' appeals on various topics were heard. The topics were mainly related to family relations, treatment of children, payment of alimony, employment, solving legal problems caused by divorce and other issues. Citizens' appeals related to the Committee's sphere of competence were listened to, relevant tasks were given for comprehensive study of the raised issues and their short-term solution. Appeals requiring investigation were registered and processed.
The next event was held on the theme "Let's say NO to gender selection of children before birth"
The State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs organized the next event with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education on "Let's say NO to gender selection of children before birth". At the event held at Baku Girls' University on March 13, 2024, Ms. Kamila Aliyeva, deputy head of the Family Affairs Department of the State Committee, made a presentation and said that determining the gender of children before birth leads to a violation of the gender ratio among children at birth.
Public discussion was held on marriages between relatives
As one of the urgent issues of the society, a wide-ranging public discussion was held regarding marriages between relatives with the participation of state institutions, MPs, civil society institutions, specialists in the field and media representatives. The discussion, which took place on March 12, 2024, was jointly organized by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, the Center for Social Research and "Khalq" newspaper, and was moderated by Mr. Aziz Alibeyli, the head of the Media and Communication Department of STM. Ms. Bahar Muradova, the chairperon of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs, welcomed everyone and noted that the public discussion was dedicated to an important and urgent issue. Emphasizing that the family is the nucleus of the society and the state, the chairperson said that traditions are always preferred in the topic discussed about Azerbaijan. She added that the environment and attitudes in the family are later transferred to the society, and noted that in order to achieve the set goals, these issues should be discussed seriously and should be put in the background as obstacles to our lives. Stating that marriage between close relatives is prohibited by Article 12 of the Family Code, the Chairperson of the Committee added: "In order to achieve the main goals of the state's policy in this direction, we have to look at the our legislation, the mechanisms of implementation of these laws, the activities of the state bodies that implement them, and the public's participation and position in this matter and explore ways to eliminate them." The chairperson added that the mentioned issue is related to the activities of the Committee and at the same time noted that each of the relevant state bodies has its own obligations and duties in this direction. She noted that the Committee has started the process of coordinated discussion of these issues for a long time. Ms. B. Muradova noted the importance of directing the society's capabilities to the solution of this issue and taking into account its position when taking the next steps. Emphasizing that the issue is under the government's attention, the chairperson said that the Family Code was amended in 2015 and that everyone undergoes a medical examination before marriage, and that this step has brought great results. She reminded the Education Rule the Cabinet of Ministers of on the negative consequences of early marriage and marriage between relatives, and said that the application of this rule has yielded certain results. Ms. B.Muradova said that the State Committee collects information on the activities of all state bodies in this regard and submits it to the National Assembly once a year. Highlighting the figures of the last two years, the chairperson said that studies were conducted on the order of the Committee based on those results. In the end, the Chairperson of the Committee, voicing his thoughts in the direction of eliminating the issue, noted that the main issue is to make appropriate changes to the legislation, and imposing bans on the fourth term can give certain results. Mr. Zahid Oruj, the head of the Social Research Center noted that about 20% of the world's population prefers consanguineous marriages due to its social benefits, and it mostly occurs in societies with closed economies, high levels of illiteracy and lack of information. Later, Mr. Aflatun Amashov the editor-in-chief of "Khalq" newspaper noted that the legislation should be tightened to prevent marriages of close relatives. According to him, if a survey is conducted among those who participated in the hearing, it turns out that up to 50 percent of people have married relatives in their family. Mr. Rustam Gasimov, head of the Legislation Development Sector of the Legislative and Legal Policy Department of the Presidential Administration emphasized that the family is an indicator of the health of society and the state as a whole, and noted that this is both a strategic problem, a problem of society, and a problem at the individual level. Mr. Araz Poladov, head of the Legislation Development Sector of the Legislative and Legal Policy Department of the Presidential Administration noted that there are certain factors that harm family values, as well as the health of society and individuals. One of them is the marriages between relatives. This is our ancient tradition. We must respect customs and traditions, we must develop them, but at the same time we must be able to refuse customs based on false stereotypes. Ms. Taliya Ibrahimova, head of the Legal Security Department of the State Committee, said that a survey was conducted among 1,354 respondents in order to study the attitude towards marriages between relatives. Mr. Fazil Mustafa, a member of National Assembly drew attention to the fact that in Azerbaijan there is not only the problem of relative marriage, but also the problem of regional marriage. Young people are told that you cannot marry someone from outside this village, settlement, or district. This is among the issues that concern us. Ms. Malahat Ibrahimgizi, Ms. Sevil Mikayilova and Ms. Jala Ahmadova, expressing their opinion on the subject, emphasized that the main line for preventing the negative effects of marriage between relatives is education and propaganda. Ms. Aynur Sofiyeva, deputy chairperson of the State Committee pointed out that with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 23, 2020, No. 213, on "Awareness rule on the negative consequences of early marriage and marriage between relatives with the aim of protecting and strengthening and the importance of family and marriage among young people" has been approved. Later, there was an exchange of views on the topic. Opinions of civil society institutions, medical specialists, lawyers and experts were heard.
Meetings were held on the topic of "Strengthening work in the direction of educating children in the spirit of patriotism and national-moral values"
With the support of the Ministry of Science and Education, the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs and the joint organization of the Department of Education for Baku city, educational meetings on "Strengthening work in the direction of educating children in the spirit of patriotism and national-moral values" are being continued. Ms. Gulnara Mammadova, head of the Department of Family Affairs of the State Committee, spoke about national-spiritual and family values, upbringing of children in the spirit of patriotism, and the importance of instilling national-spiritual values in future generations at the meetings held in Narimanov district 45, Khatai district 245 schools and Sabail district technical humanitarian high school number 2. Later, Ms. G. Mammadova voiced her opinion on the causes and prevention of early marriages, consanguineous marriages, girls' exclusion from education, and the negative effects of these problems on society and people. Also, Mr. Panah Imanov, head of the social-political and humanitarian department of the Khatai district executive authority, Mr. Anar Mammadov and Mr. Arif Hajiyev, participants of the Patriotic War and April battles, school principals spoke and emphasized the importance of educating young people in the spirit of patriotism. The short films "Family is a tree" and "The key to happiness" were shown to the participants at the events. A total of 350 people participated in the events.
"Support to applicants" program has ended at Baku State University
The last training of the "Support to applicants" program took place at Baku State University by the Assembly of Children's Ambassadors operating under the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs by within the framework of the project "Build your future!". First, the entrants got acquainted with the exhibits in the Heydar Aliyev Museum, Genetics, as well as the Museum of Evolution, within the framework of the training. Later, the members of the Assembly of Children's Ambassadors, Ms. Jala Muradli and Ms. Khalil Babayev, conducted tests on the results of the training. The deputy director of the Children's Affairs Department of the Committee, Ms. Gunel Nagdaliyeva, congratulated the children on the successful completion of the program and wished them success in their future educational life.
