BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5. The Speaker of the
Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, has informed about her
participation in the Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in the Serbian capital
Belgrade on June 2, Trend reports.


As reported, the speaker was on a working visit
to Serbia on June 1-3. The purpose of the visit was to participate
in the mentioned conference. The event was dedicated to the theme
"Progress towards parity: Removing obstacles created by gender
stereotypes and negative social norms".


Gafarova said at today's session of the parliament that in her
speech at the conference, she provided the participants with
extensive information on the state policy implemented towards women
in Azerbaijan. She spoke about the work done to increase the
representation of women in all spheres of life.


The speaker also highlighted the facts related to the
representation of women in the Azerbaijani Parliament and the
participation of women deputies in the activities of the
parliament.


She also specifically noted the role of the decrees, national
action plans and state programs signed by President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev in the development of mechanisms for supporting women
and strengthening the principles of gender equality.


"In my speech, I noted, among other things, that achieving real
gender equality does not depend only on improving legislation. Deep
and fundamental changes must occur in public consciousness. The
biggest problem on the way to achieving legal equality is gender
stereotypes and negative social norms that limit women's
opportunities," she said.


Gafarova emphasized that the Azerbaijani MPs, who were members
of the delegation, actively participated in the events held within
the framework of the conference.


The speaker noted that during the visit, he held a total of 9
meetings with the Presidents of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the newly elected
Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Vice-President,
member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Bureau of the
Women Parliamentarians Forum, as well as the Speakers of the
Parliaments of Serbia and Zimbabwe, and the Deputy Speakers of the
Parliaments of Morocco and Mauritania.


"The meetings considered cooperation within international
parliamentary organizations, as well as bilateral cooperation
between legislative bodies. Views were also exchanged on other
issues of mutual interest," Gafarova explained.


She also noted that during the visit, the delegation visited the
monument to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Belgrade's
Tasmajdan Park and commemorated the dear memory of the Great Leader
with deep respect.