Though women in Azerbaijan nominally enjoy the same legal rights as men, gender discrimination is common.[1] Particularly in rural communities, women who appear in public unaccompanied, smoke in public, drive automobiles, or visit certain theaters and restaurants are subject to disapproval.[2] Traditional social norms and poor economic conditions continue to restrict women's roles in the economy, and there are reports that women have difficulty exercising their legal rights due to discrimination.[1]
Though the majority of Azerbaijani women have jobs outside the home,[2] women are underrepresented in high-level jobs, including top business positions.[1] As of November 2010, there were 19 women in the 125-seat parliament.[3][4] As of 2007, several women held senior government positions, including deputy speaker of parliament, several deputy ministers, and deputy chair of the Central Election Commission.[1] There are no legal restrictions on the participation of women in politics, although traditional social norms limit women's political roles, and they are underrepresented in elective offices.[1]
During the active phase of the Nagorno-Karabakh War 2,000 of Azerbaijan's 74,000 military personnel were women, and 600 of them directly took part in the military operations.[5]
As of May 2009, women held the positions of Deputee Chairman of the Costitutional Court, Deputee Chairman of the Nakhchivan AR Cabinet of Ministers, four Deputee Ministers, an ambassador, and ombudsmen of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan AR. Women constituted 4 of the 16 members of the Central Election Commission and chaired of 3 of the 125 district election commissions. There were no female ministers or heads of executive governments of cities or rayons, except for Hijran Huseynova who chairs the State Committee for Family, Women & Children Affairs.[6] The State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic is the primary government agency overlooking the activities in protection of rights of women in the country.
Violence against women is a problem in Azerbaijan.[1] The government stated that 86 rapes and attempted rapes were reported during 2007, in connection with which the government criminally charged 66 persons.[1] Most rape victims reportedly knew their assailants but did not report incidents out of fear and shame.[1] Rape is illegal and carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence.[1] In rural areas women have no effective recourse against assaults by their husbands or others; there are no laws on spousal abuse or specific laws on spousal rape.[1] There are no government-sponsored programs for victims of rape or domestic violence.[1] In Baku a women's crisis center operated by the Institute for Peace and Democracy provides free medical, psychological, and legal assistance for women.[1] Representatives of the institute regularly appear on popular television talk shows to discuss women's issues.[1]
Prostitution is an administrative offense rather than a crime and is punishable by a fine of up to $102 (88 AZN).[1] Pimps and brothel owners may be sentenced to prison for up to six years.[1] Prostitution was a serious problem, particularly in Baku.[1]
The law does not directly prohibit sexual harassment.[1]
| Year | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1889 | Nigar Shikhlinskaya became the first Azeri female to obtain a higher education.[7] | Tiflis |
| 1901 | Empress Alexandra School, the first Azeri secular girls' school and the first of such kind in the Russian Empire, opened.[8] | Baku |
| 1906 | Actress Govhar Gaziyeva became the first Azeri woman to appear on stage.[9] | Tiflis |
| 1908 | Saint Petersburg Women's Medical College graduate Sona Valikhan became the first certified Azeri female physician.[10] | Saint Petersburg |
| 1908 | Philanthropist Hamida Javanshir founded the first Azeri coeducational school.[11] | Kahrizli |
| 1911 | Khadija Alibeyova published Ishig, the first Azeri-language women's magazine.[12] | Tiflis |
| 1912 | The first Azeri female opera singer Shovkat Mammadova made her first stage performance.[13] | Baku |
| 1919 | Azerbaijani women were granted the right to vote.[14] | |
| 1929 | Izzat Orujova became the first Azerbaijani female actress to act in a feature film.[15] | |
| 1930 | Adila Shahtakhtinskaya became the first Azeri woman to earn a doctorate degree.[16] | |
| 1931 | Leyla Mammadbeyova performed her first flight and became the first Azerbaijani female aviator.[17] | Baku |
| 1932 | The first Azerbaijani ballerina Gamar Almaszadeh debuted in Shakh-Senem.[18] | Baku |
| 1934 | People's Commissar of Justice Ayna Sultanova became the first Azerbaijani female cabinet minister.[19] | |
| 1949 | Valida Tutayug became the first Azeri female member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (founded in 1945).[20] | |
| 1964 | Sakina Aliyeva was elected Chair of the Supreme Soviet of Nakhchivan, becoming the first Azerbaijani female head of parliament.[21] | Nakhchivan |
| 2007 | Manzar Ismayilova became the first Azeri female pastor.[22] | |
| 2009 | Natavan Mirvatova was promoted to major general, the third highest military rank in Azerbaijan and the highest a female has ever been elevated to.[5] |
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