Azerbaijan shares gender equality success story at Kuala Lumpur forum

Chairwoman of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), Sahiba Gafarova, delivered a speech at the Second Forum of Women of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she shared Azerbaijan’s experience and achievements in the field of gender policy.

According to local media, Gafarova emphasised that Azerbaijan remains fully committed to safeguarding women’s rights and ensuring their active involvement in decision-making processes. She recalled that Azerbaijan granted women the right to vote as early as 1918 — ahead of many European states.

The Speaker pointed out that following the parliamentary elections in September 2024, women secured 26 of the 125 seats in the Milli Majlis, marking an increase compared to the previous term.

Today, female deputies are represented in most of the parliamentary committees, which ensures that their views are reflected in the discussion of all matters under parliamentary consideration.

Gafarova also spoke about Azerbaijan’s initiatives concerning gender issues within international parliamentary organisations, stressing the country’s active role in advancing gender equality on the global stage.

By Tamilla Hasanova