To participants of the 5th Forum of Azerbaijani Women

Dear Ladies.

Dear Friends.

I would like to welcome all the participants and guests of the 5^th Forum of Azerbaijani Women, dedicated to granting women the right to vote in Azerbaijan. The Forum is held on supremely important for Azerbaijan days. Our country is celebrating the one-century anniversary of a great historic event. A hundred years previously, on May 28, 1918, leading political and public figures of our country, having adopted the Declaration of Azerbaijan’s Independence promulgated the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. All attributes of the state – the state emblem, flag, anthem, national army and currency – were initiated in the republic. Such values as love for freedom, dignity, tolerance and respect for women had been reflected in the state structure of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. A democratic republic with the multinational and multi-party parliament was created for the first time in the Muslim Orient. At the time, 100 years ago, quite a progressive decision, getting ahead of the time, was taken in the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. For the first time in the Muslim Orient, much earlier than in USA and a number of European countries, women in democratic Azerbaijan earned an equal right to vote, on a par with men.

Dear Ladies, dear Friends.

Our people have been through a long path until this significant date – 28^th May 1918. In the second half of the 19^th century, a process of national rebirth started among the leading public figures of Azerbaijan, with the idea of carrying out reformations and rebuilding the society on the basis of new and contemporary thinking, covering a wide scope. Progressive-minded public figures of Azerbaijan considered enlightenment of women, struggling for their social, political and civil rights and widening the possibilities of receiving education among the most important duties. Thanks to endeavours of oil magnate and patron Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, in 1901, first secular girls school opened for the first time in the Muslim Orient, with first newspapers and magazines dedicated to the status of women starting to emerge in the second decade of the 20^th century. All these created an important ground for the promulgation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and for the historical decision taken by the leadership of the republic to grant the Azerbaijani women an equal right to vote, on a par with men.

Unfortunately, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic did not live long. In 23 months since of its establishment, it became a victim of the military aggression. For long 70 years, Azerbaijan remained within the USSR. Nevertheless, progressive changes in women’s life continued to happen. Illiteracy was eradicated. Serious advancement occurred in education, healthcare and science. Azerbaijani women gained new possibilities for education and realization of their creative potential. They studied new professions and areas for activities. Pilots in the civil and military aviation, women physicians, engineers, lawyers and scientists emerged in our country. Measures for the social protection of a mother and child were strengthened.

Dear Ladies, dear Friends.

Achieved in the times of the USSR, these results are today revived. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1991, our country re-declared its statehood and independence. Symbols of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic – its anthem, emblem and flag - were rehabilitated.

Contemporary Azerbaijan is a country to have proved to be dynamically advancing. Great achievements have been reached in the country’s social and economic development under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Over the course of the last 10 years, the Azerbaijani economy has experienced threefold increase, one and a half million new jobs were created, and thousands of schools, hospitals, sports complexes built.

In our country, where men and women rights’ equality has been secured a hundred years previously, today, ensuring women’s active participation in all areas of the public life is a priority task for the Azerbaijani leadership. Back in March 2000, national leader Heydar Aliyev signed a resolution on new state policy concerning women. His purpose was to ensure that women are proportionally represented in state structures, in business and economy. Today, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, great works are being carried out towards improving women’s social protection, and betterment of their social and economic status. Reduction of poverty among women from 49 to 5.4 percent, increase in salaries and pensions, strengthening of citizens’ social protection - all these are applied directly to our women too. Employment of women in Azerbaijan, including the regions, is solved successfully. Their political, economic and public activity is increasing.

Dear Ladies, dear Friends.

A hundred years previously, on those days while the first pages of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic’s history were written, eradication of illiteracy among women, widening their access to education and healthcare were most important duties. In today’s Azerbaijan, majority of physicians and teachers are women. The number of women scientists, state officials, employees of law enforcement bodies, and public figures is increasing. Among Azerbaijani women are MPs, members of the Supreme Court, and employees of executive authorities. There is no area of activity in Azerbaijan, which would be closed or forbidden for women.

Dear Ladies, dear Friends.

In the course of past years, rare experience has been collected in successful provision of women rights in Azerbaijan, and their active participation in the public and political life. In a world where there is still discrimination, majority of women and girls lack access to education, whose elementary rights are not protected, this experience is still required, and is urgent. I am sure our joint efforts would contribute to solving problems women have been facing around the world.

Dear Friends, I wish all of you successes, peace, tranquillity, and happiness. I once more congratulate you on our state holiday – the Republic Day.

Mehriban Aliyeva

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan