Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Chair of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement Sahiba Gafarova delivered a speech at the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement on Advancing the Rights and Empowerment of Women ‘Women: Leading the Way for a Bright Future’ in Baku on 21 November.

The Chair of the Milli Majlis remarked in her speech that women, with their distinct perspective, energy, warmth and power have the capacity to inspire and bring light to our world. Unfortunately, today, our world still confronts a series of interlocking crises that have an extremely negative impact on women’s lives. All of these continue to be a barrier to achieving gender equality and women empowerment to this day.

‘Despite all difficulties, it is encouraging to witness that gender equality and women empowerment have become an integral part of the international political and development agenda. I believe we all acknowledge that they are crucial for achieving a better world based on equal rights and equal opportunities.

  ‘Today, with less than a decade left to implement the “Twenty thirty (2030) Agenda for Sustainable Development”, ensuring gender equality and women empowerment remain indispensable in fulfilling the commitments to sustainability, peace, and human progress across the globe,’ Sahiba Gafarova continued.

‘I am proud to represent a country that has achieved important results in advancing women's rights and empowering them in society and public governance. The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic established in 1918, was the first in the Muslim world to grant the women the right to vote, ahead of most European countries. After regaining its independence in the early 90’s, Azerbaijan has made a considerable progress in this issue.

‘The National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev whose 100^th anniversary we celebrate this year paid particular importance to the issue of increasing the role of women in society. In this sense, development of state policy in this sphere has been given a high priority. Establishment of government body – State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, was crucial in taking systematic and structural approach to the issue. Establishment of a dedicated parliamentary committee on Family, Women and Children was another important decision in providing government-parliament co-operation. Orders on the increase of role of women and state policy on women, as well as adoption of various laws dealing with the eradication of gender inequality and violence against women have been important results of this co-operation.

‘Today, women in Azerbaijan actively participate in all spheres of public life and take high decision-making positions. The enormous social and political activity carried out by Her Excellency Ms Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, embodies valuable contribution of our women to the development of our society and country.’

Azerbaijan has presided over the Non-Aligned Movement since 2019 and has throughout that period more than once demonstrated her dedication to strengthening unity and multidimensional co-operation among the members of the Movement. This very conference is yet another testament of His Excellency’s efforts aimed at further consolidating the spirit of solidarity, dialogue and co-operation among the Member States, Mrs Gafarova remarked before telling the event participants of the several initiatives that the Head of State had put forth during the chairmanship of the NAM.

‘One of the main results of the Azerbaijani chairmanship has been the institutional development of the NAM. And establishment of the Parliamentary Network of the NAM should be evaluated in this sense. Indeed, parliamentary diplomacy has become an important perspective in global affairs, in particular in the context of current international complexities, where preservation of multilateralism and global co-operation in addressing global challenges continue to be paramount as never before.

‘This important role of parliamentarians has been acknowledged at the 18^th Summit of NAM held in Baku, when the Heads of State and Government decided to expand and deepen interaction and co-operation among the parliamentarians of the NAM. In accordance with the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, we inaugurated the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement on the sidelines of the 143^rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in November 2021 in Madrid.

‘At Baku Conference held in June 2022, we have adopted the Statute on Working Modalities of the Network, the Baku Declaration, the official logo and flag of the Network. The Chairperson and three Vice-Chairpersons of the Network were also elected for the next three years.

‘The second Conference, held in Manama in March this year, further developed and improved working methods of the Network for its effective institutional formation and operation.  

‘And let me state that both of these conferences were held with active participation of the parliamentarians of the NAM Member countries and representatives of interparliamentary organizations. Around 700 participants in total joined these two conferences. Within a short period of time, 60 parliaments of the NAM countries have already become the member of the Network. The constant increase in the number of parliaments joining the Network is a vivid example of the importance attached to parliamentary co-operation by the NAM Member States.

‘The Parliamentary Network of the NAM has also been active in representing our parliaments in interparliamentary platforms. As the incumbent Chair of the Network, I participated in a number of important events, including the G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit and the Summit-level meeting of the NAM Contact Group in response to COVID-19, with the aim of promoting the ideas and purposes of the Network.

‘Developing institutional dialogue with other interparliamentary organizations has also been one of the main focus points of the Parliamentary Network. Currently, our Network has granted to and obtained the observer status in a number of interparliamentary organizations. Beyond that, the Network has expanded its involvement in interparliamentary co-operation by signing Memorandum of Understanding with a series of influential parliamentary institutions as well.

‘Promoting the ideals and values of the Non-Aligned Movement has been an important guideline of the work of our Network. In this sense, working hand in hand with the executive authorities of member states has allowed the Network to provide parliamentary contribution to advancement of common goals. Thus, since its inception, the Parliamentary Network has aligned itself with decisions of executive authorities by reflecting them in its proceedings and outcome documents. 

‘The collective support to the NAM initiatives on post-pandemic global recovery, the decision “On Establishing the Parliamentary Group of Support for Post-Pandemic Global Recovery Initiatives of the NAM Chairmanship”, extensive discussions of the neo-colonial policies of some countries, in particular France, prove our Network’s commitment in addressing issues of concern for Member States.

‘In this context, today’s conference, gives us another opportunity to further develop co-operation between our parliamentarians. I am sure that in its future activities, our Network will also engage in advancing the rights and empowerment of women by providing a platform for co-operation between women parliamentarians of the NAM countries.

Concluding her speech, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis underlined the acknowledgement of women’s crucial role of women in building bright future for all of us. It is evident, she added,  that without co-ordinated and concerted efforts, ensuring gender equality, building a peaceful, just and inclusive society becomes an aspiration that is increasingly difficult to reach.

‘In conclusion, my strong belief is that we need to rethink our notion of global leadership and give women the support and opportunities they need to become powerful drivers of change. Women should play a direct role in addressing on-going crises, developing a fresh wave of solidarity and justice to create a brighter future,’ said Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova.