"An 8th grade schoolgirl has an engagement ring on her finger"

There have been complaints in various parts of Azerbaijan about certain parents barring their daughters from attending school beyond the 8th grade. It has been alleged that this is often linked to early marriages.

Under Article 181 of the administrative offenses code, individuals can be fined 100 Manats, officials 300 Manats, and legal entities 5,000 Manats for depriving someone of any level of education. Additionally, Article 22 of the "Rights of the Child" law explicitly prohibits the interference with compulsory general secondary education for children.

Statistics for early marriages in 2022 have not yet been released. However, in 2021, the Ministry of Justice's registry offices received 256 applications from individuals of early marriageable age. Nonetheless, such cases are reportedly mostly concealed from official authorities.

Teymur Mardanoglu, the Head of the press service of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, told Turan,  that the committee is actively combatting these cases. He explained that awareness-raising measures are being implemented in the country to prevent early marriages, and discussions are held with parents. Mardanoglu emphasized that the parents' rationale, which primarily centers on financial considerations, is not valid.

A committee spokesperson shared that news of the engagement between a 13-year-old girl and a 37-year-old man in Baku's Sabunchu District had surfaced. The parents claimed it was merely an engagement and that the wedding would take place when the girl reached adulthood. However, this justification is widely regarded as a mere excuse. The committee promptly informed the relevant authorities, including the executive branch and the police, who intervened and prevented the marriage. Efforts are currently underway to relocate the child to a shelter, where she can continue her education and be in safe hands.

At present, it has not been possible to obtain the relatives' perspective on this matter.

Zumrud Yağmur, the founder of the initiative group "For Women," informed  Radio Azadlig that she has also received reports of girls being expelled from school after the 8th grade in recent years. She noted a significant decline in the number of girls, particularly in rural schools, starting from the 6th grade. Yağmur mentioned that one teacher revealed some of his 8th-grade students were already wearing engagement rings.

According to Yağmur, solely blaming parents is the easiest part of the issue. She stated that in district areas, when parents are asked why they married off their daughters at an early age, they often respond with statements like "there would be no scientists, so let her start a family" or "she was a burden to the household." These parents perceive their daughters as burdens, especially considering that girls have limited access to education and employment opportunities in rural areas. Yağmur argued that such views are rooted in a regressive mindset.

Yağmur further lamented that the state appears reluctant to address these issues seriously, attributing it to the government's affiliation with a patriarchal society, where preserving such values is deemed advantageous for managing society efficiently.

Attempts to contact the Ministry of Education regarding this matter were unsuccessful.