Anti-Domestic Violence Groups Set Up

Baku / 02.10.19 / Turan: The State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs prepared the rules for the work of the Working Groups (Networks) of the Monitoring Groups on Gender Violence and Violence against Children.

The document was presented on October 2 at the International Press Club by the Deputy Chairman of the State Committee, Sadagat Gahramanova. She said that the document was prepared with the assistance of the UN Commissariat for Refugees.

The three-page document says that the tasks of the newly created groups will be to coordinate the efforts of authorities, law enforcement agencies, health authorities, education, public organizations, guardianship agencies and social institutions to monitor, prevent and combat domestic violence.

In 2018, only 7 citizens of the country asked for placement in shelters with the issuance of protective warrants, which, according to lawyer a Emil Abbasov, is explained by the social passivity of citizens and the insufficient number of places in these institutions.

Employees of the newly created groups will conduct briefings for employees of relevant organizations, inform the press and collaborate with NGOs.

Data will be collected on dysfunctional families, and information on domestic violence will be transmitted to state bodies. The Working Groups will be led by coordinators appointed by the local executive branch.

MP Fazil Mustafa, speaking at the presentation, called the main cause of domestic violence not the poor work of the authorities or the absence of regulatory documents, but the general low cultural level of the population. People can throw household rubbish in public places without meeting the censure of others and punishment from the police.

Domestic violence against women begins with the prohibition of parents on education by their daughters. All citizens must necessarily receive at least an eight-year education, the responsibility for this lies with the state. "An educated woman will not allow impunity for violence against herself," the deputy added.

After clarification and expert comments, the document will be submitted to the Azerbaijani government. -0-