BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Azerbaijan’s
Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova participated in the 2nd session
of the Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF) of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in Abu Dhabi during her working
visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Trend reports.


In her opening remarks, Gafarova described the Assembly as a
platform for dialogue, solidarity, and mutual understanding. She
emphasized that the Assembly’s focus on gender equality and women’s
empowerment reflects its ongoing commitment to collective action
and achieving shared goals.


Gafarova highlighted Azerbaijan’s official application for
observer status in the PAM, expressing confidence that support for
the request would open new opportunities for closer cooperation and
more effective joint initiatives. She also underlined Azerbaijan’s
interest in strengthening ties between the Non-Aligned Movement
Parliamentary Network, currently chaired by the Azerbaijani
Parliament, and the PAM.


Furthermore, Gafarova noted that the Assembly’s representative
participated in the 4th conference of the Parliamentary Network in
Tashkent last April, underscoring Azerbaijan’s interest in
strengthening institutional ties. She said that granting mutual
observer status and signing a cooperation agreement between the two
bodies would significantly advance the shared goals of
parliamentary diplomacy.


Stressing the importance of the forum’s theme, the Speaker noted
that gender equality and women’s empowerment are recognized as
essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She
emphasized that meaningful progress requires international
cooperation alongside national efforts, as challenges in this area
are global in nature.


She emphasized that these challenges are global, requiring
coordinated international action alongside national efforts. Real
progress, she added, depends on changing societal mindsets to
embrace the inherent equality of women and men, as the full
participation of women is essential to building strong, sustainable
societies.


Speaking to participants about the state of gender equality in
Azerbaijan, Gafarova highlighted the central role of women in
Azerbaijani society. Rooted in strong family and cultural
traditions, women have long shaped the family, the smallest unit of
society, and passed values to future generations. Women have
consistently been recognized as equal partners and have played a
decisive role in national development. Gafarova recalled that the
first secular school for girls in the Muslim world opened in Baku
in 1901, and women gained the right to vote in 1918, underscoring
Azerbaijan’s historic commitment to gender equality. Today, women
are active across politics, economics, science, education,
healthcare, and diplomacy, holding leadership positions in
legislative and executive bodies, the judiciary, and international
representation. The adoption of the National Action Plan for Gender
Equality for 2026-2028 continues these sustained efforts.


The Speaker emphasized the proactive role of the Azerbaijani
Parliament in advancing gender equality through legislation, citing
that 53 draft laws on gender equality and family policy were
discussed in the last convocation, accompanied by 17 public
hearings. Female deputies serve in the majority of parliamentary
committees, ensuring their voices shape policy outcomes. She also
highlighted Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to international
cooperation in promoting women’s empowerment and expressed hope
that the forum’s discussions will translate into tangible progress,
reinforcing social solidarity, stability, and sustainable
development in the region.


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