First Person: Combatting stereotypes to prevent violence against women in Azerbaijan

2 years ago 574

Azerbaijani activistic Maryam Majidova is warring to amended sex equality successful her country, and code the regular challenges faced by women and girls.

Maryam Majidova is simply a co-founder of the Gender Hub societal platform, which brings unneurotic advocacy groups, non-profit organisations, feminists, and quality rights activists, to combat against gender-based violence. The level besides aims to empower women and girls and enactment them successful overcoming gender-related challenges.

“I person had to combat against sex stereotypes and favoritism since my childhood, ever since I mislaid my father. At schoolhouse and university, erstwhile I was successful, radical would inquire maine astir ‘the man’ down me. They could not judge that a pistillate tin win without a man’s support. 

I judge that sex stereotypes person harmful effects connected women’s capableness to make their idiosyncratic abilities, prosecute their nonrecreational careers, and marque choices astir their lives. I decided to combat against these stereotypes, which, unfortunately, are ascendant passim Azerbaijan. 

Young Azerbaijani activists protestation  sex  stereotypes connected  International Women Day, 6 March 2021.

Gender Hub

Young Azerbaijani activists protestation sex stereotypes connected International Women Day, 6 March 2021.

Changing perceptions

As a sex activist, trainer, and younker argumentation expert, I person been moving connected affirmative younker improvement for astir 10 years. During this period, I partnered with planetary organisations, including the United Nations, connected projects supporting women’s information successful nationalist and governmental life.

According to the National Survey connected Violence Against Women successful Azerbaijan, 24 per cent of women aged 15-59 had been subjected to unit by either a non-partner oregon an intimate partner. This is simply a nationalist problem, and it should beryllium connected the apical of the government’s agenda. 

Key to preventing and addressing unit against women is the progressive engagement of men and boys. Having men talk retired against gender-based unit volition besides lend to changing society’s perceptions astir sex roles and patriarchal norms.

Neftchi FC played 1  of its league   matches successful  orangish  jerseys featuring the slogan “Stop unit   against women”. 26 November 2021.

UN Azerbaijan

Neftchi FC played 1 of its league matches successful orangish jerseys featuring the slogan “Stop unit against women”. 26 November 2021.

A reddish paper for unit against women

To rise consciousness of the consequences of gender-based unit and the benefits of a gender-equal society, my colleagues and I organized a bid of events crossed the country, utilizing the hashtag #menengage, a cardinal taxable of the 2021 ‘16 Days of Activism’ run against gender-based violence, launched by the UN successful Azerbaijan

The UN partnered with an Azerbaijani shot team, Neftchi FC, which agreed to play 1 of their league matches successful orangish jerseys featuring the slogan “Stop unit against women”. The UN besides collaborated with section influencers who helped dispersed this slogan done accepted and societal media.

It is hard to execute accelerated changes with specified a profoundly rooted taste and structural issue. Nevertheless, I americium assured that these kinds of projects nonstop the close connection and assistance successful the propulsion to bring astir the benignant of alteration we imagination of.
Sometimes, companies prosecute women due to the fact that of quotas, for symbolic inclusivity, but I don’t privation to beryllium hired for the involvement of numbers. I besides judge that nary 1 should archer a pistillate what she deserves, oregon however she should behave. I simply privation women to person the aforesaid rights arsenic men.”
 

Changing perceptions

  • Women’s practice astatine decision-making levels is debased successful Azerbaijan: the state is ranked 88 of 194 countries connected the 2020 UNDP Gender Development Index. 
  • In the nationalist parliament, 18.3 per cent (22 retired of 120) of the members are women. Men besides predominate the higher echelons of enforcement power.
  • Women are besides marginally represented successful the judiciary – lone 57 retired of 480 judges, 47 of 1,069 prosecutors, and six of 41 Supreme Court judges are women.
  • Gender stereotypes are besides employed to warrant unit against women, which remains 1 of the main issues successful Azerbaijan. According to the country’s Prosecutor General Office, 51 women were killed and 24 were injured arsenic a effect of home unit betwixt January and September 2021.
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