A women's dividend - Taking the lead in advancing gender equality: Visit of the UNIFEM Executive 26 May 2006, Baku, Azerbaijan - “Women’s poverty becomes children’s poverty. We must break the intergenerational transfer of poverty. The best way to do this is investing in women and ending their poverty, - said Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) during her visit to Baku. “As the fastest growing economy in the world, the government of Azerbaijan is working to translate this growth into improved livelihoods and increased social protection. Women must get dividends from such a positive and dynamic economic growth.” Visiting Azerbaijan upon the invitation of the Government, Dr. Heyzer met with His Excellency President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Elmar Mamedyarov, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Ali Hasanov, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva, Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Issues Ms. Hijran Huseynova, representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, government officials, members of Azerbaijani Parliament, leaders of non-governmental organizations, activists of women networks – including Coalition 1325 and the National Network of IDP Women - entrepreneurs, community leaders, academia, the Resident Coordinator of the UN System Mr. Marco Borsotti, and representatives of UN agencies. In coordination with the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Issues, dialogue with UNIFEM partners encompassed issues from advancing gender equality at the local and national level, to utilizing the resources from such a powerful economy to support government in improving women’s economic opportunities throughout Azerbaijan. The high level of partnership which UNIFEM has established at all levels of society in Azerbaijan has created a solid background for the Fund’s further activities aimed at improving opportunities for women’s employment, supporting government in mainstreaming and monitoring gender throughout national development strategies and ensuring women’s voices from the grass roots are heard by policy makers. “We are at that particular stage of development when the Government is ready to invest money into national programmes aimed at poverty reduction and regional development but still need the support of the UN and other international organizations in capacity building and technical assistance in implementation of these programs, - said Ms. Hijran Huseynova at the meeting with the UNIFEM Executive Director. Since 2001, UNIFEM has worked in Azerbaijan under the sub-regional programme “Women for Conflict Prevention and Peace Building in the Southern Caucasus”. From assessing the situation of IDP women, supporting women leaders to work on gender equality and conflict resolution, to mobilizing youth on gender and peace – the UNIFEM project has been active throughout Azerbaijan. For more information, please contact: Olga Grebennikova, Communication Specialist, UNIFEM Regional Project “Women for Conflict Prevention and Peace Building in the Southern Caucasus”; (994 12) 498 98 88, mobile (994 50) 594 60 33, email olga.grebennikova@unifem.org UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations, providing financial support and technical assistance to innovative programs promoting women's human rights, their economic and political empowerment, and gender equality in over 100 countries. For more information, visit www.unifem.org Photo gallery

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