Seminar Held on “Promoting Inclusive Language in Media”

A seminar titled “Promoting Inclusive Language in Media” was held, jointly organized by the United Nations in Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. The event brought together media representatives, NGOs working on disability-related issues, members of the UN Communications Group and the Inclusion Working Group, as well as experts.

At the opening of the seminar, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Rashad Mustafayev spoke about the work being carried out in Azerbaijan in the areas of social protection, rehabilitation, and social integration of persons with disabilities. It was noted that within the framework of social reforms implemented in recent years upon the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, significant increases have been made in pensions, allowances, and scholarships for persons with disabilities. The important role of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center, established on the initiative of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, in developing the creative potential of persons with disabilities was also highlighted. The Ministry shared information on inclusive projects implemented in recent years for persons with disabilities.

It was emphasized that, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, one of the directions of improving national legislation based on progressive international practice has been the replacement of a number of stereotypical, outdated, or vulgar terms related to disability with modern and ethically appropriate expressions. For example, terms such as “mute” have been replaced with “a person with fully limited speech ability,” “blind” with “a person with fully limited vision,” and “deaf” with “a person with fully limited hearing,” among others.

It was stressed that the media should also avoid using outdated terminology or vulgar expressions when reporting on issues related to persons with disabilities. Instead, journalists are encouraged to use correct, inclusive, and respectful language reflected in legislation, promoting an approach that respects the characteristics and dignity of these individuals.

UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Ms. Vladanka Andreeva, referred to the UN Disability-Inclusive Communication Guidelines and underlined the importance of inclusive language in the media. She noted that the training aimed to promote dialogue among participants, share good practices, and strengthen capacity for the use of inclusive language in media reporting.

As part of the seminar, an interactive performance titled “The Words We Choose” was presented, along with a presentation on “Understanding Disability and Inclusion – Key Concepts and Terminology.” An interactive training session on the use of inclusive language in describing disability was conducted. Group work was also organized, during which participants wrote short news pieces or stories using inclusive language, followed by an evaluation of the final outputs.