Invisible Barriers: The Lives of People with Disabilities in Azerbaijan

On May 28, Azerbaijan marks Independence Day. It was on this day, 108 years ago in 1918, that the Declaration of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) — the first republic in the Muslim world.

In the old quarters of Baku, the morning of Eid al-Adha begins before dawn. Even before the first rays of sunlight touch the narrow streets, the air fills with the quiet voices of men hurrying to mosques, the smell of fresh bread from clay ovens, and the uneasy bleating of sheep brought in the night before the holiday.

A conflict surrounding a newly constructed sewerage line in the settlement of Buzovna in northeastern Baku continues to escalate, gradually transforming from a local коммунal dispute into a broader issue concerning the transparency of infrastructure projects, environmental oversight and the accountability of state institutions.

In recent years, the teacher institution in Azerbaijan has evolved from being merely part of education policy into one of the key components of the state’s long-term human capital strategy. Teacher certification, salary increases, digital education projects and the modernization of school infrastructure are presented among the government’s priority areas. At the same time, problems related to the social prestige of the teaching profession, regional inequality, the expansion of private tutoring, the high centralization of school governance and the actual quality of education still remain unresolved.