The invisible punishment: why the number of women behind bars is rising in Azerbaijan

On a cool March morning in the Azerbaijani capital, the streets are filled with bouquets of tulips and roses as the country prepares to celebrate International Women’s Day. Official speeches praise women as guardians of culture and family, while television programs honor their contribution to society.

In 2024, violence against women in Azerbaijan remained a pressing issue, attracting significant public and political attention. Despite notable progress, systemic challenges persist, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.

Proposals to amend the Family Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, providing for certain restrictions, including the prohibition of marriages between blood relatives in connection with genetic diseases they generate or spread were discussed at a meeting of the Parliamentary Commission on Family,

Azerbaijan finds itself at a crossroads regarding the legality and social implications of related marriages. In a public discussion titled "Related marriages," Rustam Gasimov, head of the sector of the Department of Legislative and Legal Policy of the Presidential Administration, revealed that discussions are underway to potentially prohibit marriages between cousins up to the third and fourth degree of kinship at the legislative level.