Meeting with members of the Azerbaijan Rural Women Association was held

11 February 2021

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On February 11, 2021, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan held a video meeting with members of the Azerbaijan Rural Women Association.

Opening the event, Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the Committee, noted the importance of paying special attention to this area, given that the main part of the Azerbaijani population is made up of citizens living in rural areas and women have a special place among them. For the first time, B.Muradova paid attention to the report submitted to the Milli Majlis in December 2020 on the activities of the State Committee on Ensuring Gender Equality, both within Azerbaijan and in cooperation with international organizations. She said that the beginning of the stage has been set. Reminding that the committee has just celebrated its 15th anniversary, the chairperson noted that great work has been done and supported to increase the employment of women, especially rural women. She noted that the Committee will continue this process in the post-war period of peaceful construction, and stressed the importance of joint work to contribute to this work.

Speaking at the event, the chairperson of the Association Gulbaniz Ganbarova noted that women living in remote villages and settlements have little opportunity to work. However, she said that with the support of the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture, women have contributed not only to the development of their businesses, but also to the development of their communities and regions. She also noted that the establishment of 39 Women's Development and Enterprise Groups (WGGs), which today operate in 15 districts and unite 490 rural women, has led women to unite in collectives and build their own businesses.

World Bank expert Tara Sharafuddin made a presentation on the project, noting that the project has been implemented in 25 countries around the world, and 55 million women are involved in this model.

Speaking later, Meysarat Gaysayeva, chairperson of Women's Development and Enterprise Groups of Balakan, Arzu Mirzayeva, chairperson of Women's Development and Enterprise Groups of Ismayilli, Alma Jafarova, chairperson of Women's Development and Enterprise Groups of Sabirabad, Vusala Javadova, chairperson of  Women's Development and Enterprise Groups of Aghdam, spoke about the successes and challenges of rural women, made a number of proposals for the lease of land.

At the end of the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the proposals of the ACGA members and the solution of the problems they face together with government agencies.