Azerbaijan: OMCT, AFHRO issue joint alternative report to UN

The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and
Azerbaijan Federation of Human Rights Organizations (AFHRO)
express their concerns regarding violence against women in Azerbaijan at the 33rd session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(CESCR). (10-DEC-2004)

Alternative report against violence

At its 33rd session convened on 8-26 November 2004, the Committee on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has reviewed the second periodic report of the Azerbaijan state parties on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Azerbaijan is among the 151 States parties to the Covenant, and has the obligation to submit progress report to the Committee.

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), together with Azerbaijan Federation of Human Rights Organization (AFHRO), has submitted an alternative report to the Committee regarding violence against women in Azerbaijan.

Concern

OMCT and AFHRO express their grave concerns in the report of the poor
political, social and economic situations of women and violence against women in the family, the community and perpetrated by state agents.

Although women are granted full equality with men by the laws, a huge
gap exists between their legal rights and the reality. The Nagorno-Karabakh armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia (1988-1994), resulting in a large number of refugees and internally displaced people, aggravated the political and socio-economic situation in the country as a whole, and that of women to a larger extent.

OMCT and AFHRO are greatly concerned of the violence against women
perpetrated not only by private individuals, but also by the state
agents. Torture is one of the most widespread methods of investigation in Azerbaijan, and the condition of prisons remains poor.

In addition, the alternative report also raises the issue of the status of women’s reproductive and sexual rights. The high level of maternal mortality in giving birth, because of extra-genital disease and haemorrhages and the lack of medical training and education, demonstrates the impoverishment of the Azerbaijan population.

In its concluding observation, the Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights has included a number of recommendations presented in the alternative report. Serious concerns have been raised on the persistent gender inequalities and discrimination against women in the country, the lack of legal or policy mechanisms
by the government, which specifically address domestic violence against women, the trafficking of women, and the low awareness of the general public in Azerbaijan on sexual and reproductive heath.

Foremost troubles

Being one of the most common and difficult problems in the country,
Domestic violence against women is a taboo subject in Azerbaijan’s patriarchal society. It is not accepted to “seek solution for family problems outside of the family or household”, and women/girls are not encouraged to refer themselves to the police in the case of abuse by her husband, brother or father. Moreover, the problem has received limited attention from the government, and there is no reliable state
statistics about the violence against women in general, and domestic
violence in particular.

In the community, rape and sexual harassment remain serious problems.
Only 49 cases of rape and attempts of rape have been registered in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2003, which demonstrates that in the majority of cases the victims of rape prefer not to publicize it. The kidnapping of brides, which is still in practice in the rural regions of Azerbaijan, are also often accompanied by rape.

Furthermore, the Azerbaijan Republic is, at the same time, a country of origin, transit, and destination of trafficking in persons. Have being denied by the state parties for a long time, trafficking in women raised attentions of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and various NGOs of the civil society.

Appeal

Hence, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights requests
the State party to provide in its next periodic report detailed information on the extent of domestic violence, violence against women in particular, and the legislative measures and policies taken by the State party to address this issue.

The Committee also urges the government to adopt legislation specifically criminalising the human trafficking and to ensure necessary protection and assistance to victims of trafficking. Moreover, the Committee recommends the Azerbaijan authorities to
develop a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health programme,
including a public awareness raising campaign about safe contraceptive methods.

To obtain copies of the alternative reports or for further information please contact the Women’s Desk at OMCT, tel.+41 22 809 4939, fax.+ 41 22 809 4929,
e-mail: cbb@omct.org or ak@omct.org.