Azerbaijani parliament speaker highlights social policy success at IPU Assembly in Uzbekistan

Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova has delivered an insightful overview of Azerbaijan's accomplishments in social policy during her address at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 

The General Debate at the Assembly centered on "Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice," where Gafarova shared the nation’s progress and strategies in social development, the Press and Public Relations Department of the Azerbaijani parliament told Caliber.Az. 

Gafarova emphasized that a robust economic foundation, as envisioned by the Azerbaijani government's approach, plays a pivotal role in effectively executing social policies. 

She quoted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s words, "Everything should be fair in society, in politics and in the family. The principles of social justice have always been important to us."

In her address, Gafarova highlighted some key social achievements, noting that Azerbaijan has made significant strides in reducing unemployment and poverty rates to just 5.5 per cent. 

"Among the key achievements of this policy are the reduction of unemployment and poverty rates to 5.5 per cent. Over the past five years, four social reforms have impacted 40 percent of the population: the minimum wage has increased 2.7 times, the wage fund has risen 2.6 times, and social benefits and pensions have been increased fivefold," she said.

Gafarova also underscored the alignment of Azerbaijan’s national development strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She referred to the document titled "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development", which outlines the creation of a dynamic and inclusive society based on social justice as one of the country’s five key national development priorities. 

Furthermore, Gafarova noted that the overall framework for social development in Azerbaijan is defined by the Constitution of the country. In line with this, the Azerbaijani parliament has enacted a series of fundamental laws to support social development.

She stressed that amendments to existing legislation remain a priority, emphasizing that legislation is a dynamic and evolving process. The parliament speaker also addressed the ongoing efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories following their return to Azerbaijani control in 2020.

"Since the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from occupation, the government has been working actively on their reconstruction. Demining efforts are underway, economic activities are being revived, and projects in the field of green energy are being implemented," she noted.

Gafarova highlighted that approximately 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have already returned to their native lands. 

"By the end of 2026, this number is expected to reach 140,000. This is a clear example of our people-centered and sustainable approach to development," she stated. The Speaker also emphasized that the social integration of refugees and IDPs has been one of Azerbaijan’s key priorities for the past 30 years. 

"As a result of Armenia's 30-year occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, nearly one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced people. Over 250,000 of them were expelled from Armenia. The occupation led to the complete destruction of nine cities and hundreds of villages, as well as historical, cultural, and religious monuments, and vital infrastructure. Despite the heavy socio-economic burden caused by the occupation, our government took all necessary measures to meet the needs of refugees and IDPs," Gafarova added.

By Naila Huseynova