Conference on “The development of society begins with safety for all” dedicated to the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2025

• Ms. Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs
• Honorable Members of Parliament
• Senior Government representatives
• Representatives from the Local Executive Authorities
• Members of the BAR Association
• Representatives from the non-government organizations
• Distinguished Participants

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to today’s conference marking this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Every year, on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the world comes together to call for an end to violence against women and girls. 

The campaign continues for 16 days, culminating on 10 December, Human Rights Day – reminding us that violence against women and girls is, above all, a grave violation of human rights.

 I am honoured that, once again, we are launching the 16 Days campaign in Azerbaijan together with Bahar xanım and all of you.

Distinguished Participants,

Around the world, one in three women experiences violence in her lifetime.

Over the past three decades, we have seen important progress – stronger laws, more services, growing attention to prevention. 

Yet violence against women and girls continues to cause profound harm to individuals, families, communities, and societies.

This violence is sustained by structural barriers – including entrenched gender stereotypes and unequal power relations. 

And today, rapid technological change is opening new frontiers for abuse. The digital space has become another arena where harassment, threats and abuse are widespread.

That is why this year’s campaign focuses on one of the fastest-growing forms of violence: digital violence against women and girls.

Digital violence is real violence. It inflicts real psychological harm, enables coercive control, can lead to offline violence, and has serious consequences for health, well-being and safety. 

It also drives women and girls out of public life, silencing their voices and limiting their leadership.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence further intensifies these risks, including through targeted disinformation that reinforces harmful norms and normalizes violence.

Distinguished Participants, 

As Bahar xanım has highlighted, Azerbaijan has taken important steps to address these challenges. 

Azerbaijan was among the 143 Member States supporting the Global Digital Compact in 2024, and has recently signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.

This Convention offers a comprehensive framework to prevent and combat cybercrime, while upholding human rights and strengthening international cooperation. Importantly, it recognizes the need to integrate a gender perspective into all efforts to prevent and address these offences.

Azerbaijan has also adopted its first comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap – the Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Information Security and Cybersecurity for 2023–2027. 

This strategy aims to strengthen digital defenses, protect critical infrastructure, and enhance the safety of individuals – including women and children – in the online space.

Distinguished Participants, 

The United Nations in Azerbaijan is committed to supporting the Government and all partners in making both our offline and online worlds safe, inclusive and respectful. 

We look forward to continuing our cooperation to promote digital literacy, support survivors, and ensure that technology becomes a force for empowerment rather than harm.

Over the next 16 days – and beyond – let us stand together for a future where every woman and every girl in Azerbaijan, and everywhere, can live free from violence and fully realize her potential.

Thank you.