"It is necessary to increase number of women MPs in Azerbaijani parliament"

It is necessary to achieve active participation of women in socio-political life of Azerbaijan, as well as increasing the number of women MPs in the Parliament, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said at a meeting with Azerbaijani ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova in Baku.

There are 14 women of 125 MPs in the Azerbaijani Parliament, representing 11% of parliamentary seats. There is one woman among three vice-chairmen of the parliament. A woman heads one of the parliamentary committee.

Speaking in the Parliament, Buquicchio noted the need for adopting the Domestic Violence Bill, submitted for discussion. She said that at the moment the Council of Europe prepares the convention and mechanism of the monitoring associated with this question.

Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe noted that a separate convention to protect children from corporal punishment has not been adopted yet. But there was an extensive campaign with the participation of 21 countries. Materials related to activities conducted in this area will be sent to Azerbaijan.

Buquicchio highly appreciated the activity of the Commissioner for Human Rights. She expressed the need to organize workshops for judges with the participation of international experts.

Suleymanova said that about 26.6 percent of candidates were women at the last municipal elections due to regular educational activities of the Ombudsman's Office and the Azerbaijani State Committee for Family, Women and Children. The work is underway to ensure the active participation of women in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Ombudsman made a proposal on Azerbaijan's ratification of the European Convention for the Protection of children from exploitation and sexual assault and adoption of the Law "Protection of children from corporal punishment."


/Trend/