Log in
Edit
Discuss
| Azerbaijan | |
 Flag of Azerbaijan | |
| Population (in Mil.) | 8.3 |
 Sex Ratio (m/f)
| 0,97 |
 Life Expectancy Ratio (f/m)
| 1.07 |
 Fertility Rate
| 2.16 |
 Income Ratio (f/m)
| 0.44 |
 Literacy Ratio (f/m)
| 0,99 |
 Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (f/m)
| 0,87 |
 Women in Parliament (in %)
| 12,3 |
| SIGI Rank | 37 |
| More information on variables | |
| Did you know that Azerbaijan ranks number 37 of 102 countries on the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index? To learn more, see the official country note "Gender Equality and Social Institutions in Azerbaijan" at genderindex.org: | |
Contents |
Social Institutions
The Constitution of Azerbaijan guarantees equality and rights for all citizens; Article 25 specifically prohibits any restriction of these rights on the grounds of gender. Principles contained in the Employment Code, the Penal Code and the Marriage and Family Code all stem from the Constitution, thereby further sanctioning equal rights and freedoms for men and women.
Azerbaijan transposes international treaties into its legislation. This allows the courts and other competent bodies to make direct reference to Article 1 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. In October 2006, Azerbaijan passed a law on gender equality, which defines gender-based discrimination as any distinction, exclusion or restriction exercised on the basis of gender, including sexual harassment.
Family Code
The status of Azerbaijani women within the family is relatively well protected. The minimum legal age for women to marry is 17 years. The local government has authority to lower this by one year if the family submits a reasoned request. Early marriage is uncommon, but is increasing among poor families living in rural areas in the centre and south of the country. According to a United Nations estimate in 2004, 13% of women aged between 15 and 19 were married, divorced or widowed.
Polygamy is prohibited by Azerbaijani law. The Penal Code also prohibits any attempt (for example, the use force or threats) to oblige women to enter into marriage or polygamous relationships.
Parental authority is covered by Articles 56 to 61 of the Family Code, which stipulate that both parents have the same rights and responsibilities in caring for and educating their children. Nonetheless, traditional norms and culture restrict women to in a subordinate role. In general, men are considered the head of the family and have sole control over all aspects of family life. By contrast, women are expected to seek agreement from their husbands before taking important decisions.
The law on inheritance reflects legislation granting spouses equal property rights. It awards preference to the surviving spouse, thereby ensuring that the spouse receives shares equal to that of the children and parents of the deceased. Regardless of what the will of the deceased states, a portion of the inheritance must pass to the surviving spouse – and must equal at least half the share to which the spouse would be legally entitled. The practice of obliging widows to marry a man from the deceased husband’s family is practically unknown in Azerbaijan. Widows are free to decide whether they wish to remarry and, indeed, who to wed.
Physical Integrity
The physical integrity of Azerbaijani women is not fully guaranteed. Violence against women remains problematic, particularly in rural areas. Very few official statistics about the extent of the problem exist, and those available provide a distorted picture. Legislation provides for criminal prosecution in cases of domestic violence and outlines punishment for acts of rape (including spousal rape), forced sexual relations or marriage, the prevention of marriage by force and polygamy. In practice, the law is difficult to apply, particularly in cases of domestic violence in rural areas. An unofficial center for women in crisis, which recently opened in Baku, provides victims of violence with free medical, psychological and legal aid.
There is no evidence to suggest that female genital mutilation is practiced in Azerbaijan, nor that it is a country of concern in relation to missing women (including infants, young girls and teenagers).
Civil Liberties
Women in Azerbaijan have a high degree of civil liberty. No restrictions are reported on their freedom of movement or freedom of dress.
Ownership Rights
Azerbaijani women have full rights to pursue economic independence. Access to land is a guaranteed right for all Azerbaijani citizens, regardless of gender. There are no legal restrictions on women’s access to property other than land and no statutory limits on their access to bank loans. Both spouses have the same rights of ownership and tenure of the couple's joint property, whether such property was acquired with the husband's or wife's income.
Sources
- CEDAW (1996), Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, initial reports of States parties – Azerbaijan, CEDAW/C/AZE/1, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
- CEDAW (2005), Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, second and third periodic reports of State parties – Azerbaijan, CEDAW/C/AZE/2-3, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
- CEDAW (2006), Réponses à la liste de questions suscitées par le rapport unique (valant second and third periodic reports), CEDAW/C/AZE/Q/3/Add.1
- FAO, IFAD, ILC (2004), Rural Women’s Access to Land and Property in Selected Countries, Progress Towards Achieving the Aims of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, FAO (Gender and Population Division), IFAD (Technical Advisory Division) and the International Land Coalition.
- U.S. Department of State (2006), Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Azerbaijan, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
- United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Fertility Report, New York: UN (2004).
See Also
United_Nations_Special_Program_for_the_Economies_of_Central_Asia_(SPECA)
The Women, Business and the Law
Where are laws equal for men and women? 
The Women, Business and the Law report presents indicators based on laws and regulations affecting women's prospects as entrepreneurs and employees. Several of these indicators draw on the Gender Law Library, a collection of over 2,000 legal provisions impacting women's economic status. This report does not seek to judge or rank countries, but to provide information to inform discussions about women’s economic rights. Covering 128 economies, Women, Business and the Law provides data covering 6 areas: accessing institutions,using property, getting a job, dealing with taxes, building credit, and going to court.Read more about the methodology.
For detailed information on Azerbaijan, please visit the Women, Business and
the Law Azerbaijan page.
