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State Committee on Family, Women and Children Issues, UNFPA and Azerbaijan IDPs and Refugees Youth Organization hold a conference on Violence against Women
 The State Committee on Family, Women and Children Issues, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Azerbaijan IDPs and Refugees Youth Organization held a Conference on "Elimination of Violence against women" on November 23, 2006 at Grand Hotel Europe. The Conference was a culmination of the 2-months joint "Elimination of Violence against Women" project. The event was dedicated to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November. In December 1999, the 54th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/134 declaring November 25th the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.
 The Conference was attended by the Chairperson of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Issues, Ms. Hijran Huseynova, Deputy Minister of justice - Mr. Nazim Alekberov, deputy chair of the Constitutional Court- Ms. Sona Slamanova; Members of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Republic, UNFPA Gender and Advocacy Coordinator Ms. Nigina Abbaszade, as well as representatives of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The project was aimed at raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local-community-based and national levels, strengthening local work around violence against women, establishing a clear link between local and international treaties to end violence against women.
In the framework of the the project a number of workshops on gender issues were held in Qabala, Ismailli, Barda and Ganja, advocacy resources were published and disseminated among people.
The conference started with the demonstration of the public service announcement produced by UNFPA and the Committee that address issues of early marriage, gender stereotypes, domestic violence. Conference participants stated that in Azerbaijan Gender-based violence exists in culture of silence and denial. Concerns over child care, financial considerations, social stigmas, family pressure, uncertainty about where to apply for necessary assistance and possibility of legal support, all impact a women's ability to pursue for legal support. As a result, only a negligible number of cases on gender-based violence are registered officially.
The conference recommended the following actions to be taken by relevant agencies to address gender-based violence and stop this practice.
- enacting clear policies and laws - Punishment should encompass monetary fines and imprisonment as well as counselling for perpetrators in an attempt to prevent future abuse.
- National advocacy campaigns addressed to changing stereotyped gender attitudes and to raise awareness that violence against women is a violation of human rights. Campaigns should be directed both to the general public as well as to specific target groups (police, social workers, legal advisors, lawyers, NGO representatives, healthcare providers).
- Development of protection service for the victims. These services should cover infrastructural and financial support for women survivors of violence such as shelters, specialized units in hospitals and police stations, free legal assistance, job training and employment referrals.
- Development a surveillance system and database to track violence against women; establishing strong enforcement mechanisms; hiring effective and well-trained personnel
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