Superstition - the foundation of early marriage

-Recently, one after another in Zagatala and Jalilabad, two 17-year-old girls committed suicide, thereby returning the problem of early marriage to the agenda. It is rumored in social networks and media that this is a protest of the girls against early marriage. Why is there still a problem of early marriage in Azerbaijan? What is the reason? Are there many girls suffering from this problem?

- This happens despite the Azerbaijani government brought the legislative acts on the prevention of early marriage into line with international standards. However, the problem still exists. The population is informed about this, because we are often telephone calls in connection with this topic, and people are interested in the existing punishment. Unfortunately, the number of lawsuits on the facts of early marriages is much less than the number of the early marriages themselves. This is natural, since society supports early marriages, is silent about them, not considering it a crime. It came to the point that deputies and human rights activists opposed the introduction of the Article 144 of the Criminal Code (kidnapping), insisting that kidnapping a girl was a tradition. According to Azerbaijani law, those who wish to marry can freely apply even to ASAN Hidmet to register officially their marriage. It turns out that the registration of marriage through the abduction of girls is the best way to confront the fact of those who oppose marriage (parents). We do not know if all abductions are voluntary or voluntarily forced.

The suicides are an indicator of ongoing gender-based violence. I would like to note with regret that in recent years, instead of reducing the tendency of existing stereotypes, they become even darker and denser. This trend has several factors. Cultural factor. We agree that instead of cultural exaltation, society is increasingly slipping into superstition. The main weapon of superstition is "honor." If someone opposes this, then, regardless of age, he will be branded dishonorable, and those around him will be silent so as not to be branded.

The second factor is education. Even though there are calls in the country in this regard, they are not effective enough, since families do not want to invest in girls' education. If, according to pre-existing stereotypes, parents invested in boys so that they could later provide for their parents or become the head of the clan, today parents understand well that their daughters can do this; they are ready to satisfy all the needs of their parents. Perhaps they approach this issue even more sensitively. Evading education is more based on superstition, rather than on the economic factor. The biggest obstacle to girls' education is such thoughts as - the girl will receive an education and become immoral, will not obey, will want to continue her education abroad, will not marry.

There is also an economic factor, but it is not decisive. Let us pay attention to the issue of tuition fees. Here, not only parents, but also boys and girls themselves refuse to study. The social factor is one of the decisive. The most critical factor is the lack of solidarity among women. Recently, one writer told me "they gave you freedom" ... A few years ago I expressed this opinion, this person is right, because the female movement is still not formed in our country, there is no female solidarity. Pay attention to women elected to parliament, they are supported by men, not women. So far, not a single women's organization, not a single women's movement has nominated women or declared their support for them.

Girls commit suicide because they are forcibly married. Since not all girls committed suicide precisely because of this reason, this thesis is incorrect. This opinion is formed because of the fact that suicide investigations do not rely on an indicator of gender-based violence.

-Early marriages in themselves contain sexual abuse. However, the number of criminal cases initiated in connection with this issue is small. Why? Law enforcement interest in hiding these issues or some other obstacles?

- I would be sincere, but I did not meet the tendency to conceal sexual crimes. On the contrary, neither the prosecutor"s office nor the police were ever tolerant of those who committed crimes of a sexual nature against minors. Just in the law, sexual relations with minors under 16 are considered sexual crimes, and over 16, they are not considered such. Unless, of course, this is rape. Interestingly, if early marriage is forced, then it can be regarded as rape. However, in most cases, parents interfere with this. There is another point, as you know; parents are the guardian of a person under the age of 18. If the minor appeals to the authorities in connection with the deprivation of the parents' parental rights and a guardian will be assigned, in this case it will be possible to consider early marriage from a position of rape. However, this issue was not even brought up for discussion by women's organizations as an incident, and even if it was submitted, it was not discussed. Because in 99.9% early marriages occur with girls over 16 years old.

Thanks to the measures taken, the number of early marriages in Azerbaijan decreased from 2500 to 400-600 per year. 65,000 marriages are concluded in Azerbaijan annually, of which 1% are in early marriages. Head of the Department of Information and Analytical Research of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Elgun Safarov

-What do we need to combat early marriage? What is the role of NGOs and government? What problems do NGOs wishing to address this issue, face?

- The problem of gender-based violence and early marriage is neither fundamentally addressed by NGOs nor the government. All participants must be involved here. I believe that without the participation of society it will be impossible to solve this problem. To solve it, there must be political will. Civil society is partially weak in this case. There are certain factors: absence of financial sources, and stereotypes of NGOs themselves, which do not allow stopping the problem.

-What is the role of early marriage in the emergence of problems such as human trafficking, trafficking?

- Of course, among victims of people trafficking you can also find victims of early marriages. Because parents who married their daughter forcibly subsequently do not support their children. In such cases, of course, the role of support centers is indispensable. Unfortunately, we do not have enough information about such centers. In such hopeless cases, people involved in people trafficking use the dependence of persons, those who do not have a roof over their heads, education, and criminals use the resulting void, making good money on it. That is why the concept of potential victims of people trafficking, which provided for a package of services, was included in the 3 National Plan of Action against Trafficking. At present, the 4 National Action Plan has further expanded this service package.

-How are things with the fight against trafficking in Azerbaijan?

-Probably, this is the only consistent and developing in an ascending line struggle - the fight against human trafficking. There is a comprehensive cooperation - NGO cooperation, improvement of legislation, attracting new participants (from the state and other sectors), access to official profiles, information, and so on.

In 2018, as a result of operational-search work, 144 crimes related to trafficking in persons were registered, as well as 35 crimes of illegal actions with documents aimed at trafficking in persons. Thirteen criminal groups of 28 people were neutralized, and out of the 51 accused wanted 34 or 66.6% were detained." Azerbaijan"s National Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

- What other questions does this problem raise?

- There is a sufficient degree of political will, effort and activity in the issue of combating trafficking in persons. First, it should be noted that anywhere in the world it was not possible to stop completely human trafficking.

The legislation has become beneficial for people in the fight against trafficking. At the same time, states are obligated to meet even the minimum requirements in the fight against trafficking. In our country, great efforts are being made in the fight against human trafficking, however, problems such as stereotypes, gender-based violence; social and educational problems do not provide an opportunity to reduce statistics.

- Can measures taken by the government in the fight against trafficking be considered satisfactory?

- The policy and activities of the government in the fight against trafficking in persons are satisfactory. Unfortunately, in society and among the intelligentsia, there are those who cannot distinguish immoral behavior from the phenomenon of human trafficking. Sadly, they are trying to form different opinions.

People trafficking is determined by specific criteria and relevant factors. As for immorality, this is a completely different problem, which can only be associated with people trafficking if the person who committed the crime in the field of trafficking deceived the victim and used it for profit.

The anti-trafficking law contains such an expression. Human behavior cannot cause exploitation. This offer is actually the best message in the fight against stereotypes. You cannot buy or sell those who are divorced, widowed, is in a difficult situation or have chosen immoral activities ... People trafficking is not only sexual exploitation.

- What should be done to help eliminate this problem?

- Everyone should join the fight - society, government, NGOs, religious organizations, Diaspora organizations, and the business sector. Do not stop there; we need to act together. Only in this case can we achieve great success.