Celebrating Women- only once a year!

Today is March 8th- International Women's Day. The day when all the men around the world (or at least in places where this day is celebrated) congratulate women around them. They buy them presents, boxes of chocolates, and flowers. In fact, florists are probably the happiest people on this day, because its THE day of profits. Its great and all when you look at it from a festive point of view bu...

The flowers, the chocolate and the presents: 

Don't we deserve flowers every day rather than just one day in a calendar that has 364 other days based on the logic of all the messages and cards that are sold on this day (oh women are like flowers, they need to be treated well and sought after type of cards and messages)? How difficult is it to buy flowers for the women surrounding you on other days? Whats the excuse? And can I just say this?! I don't need anyone to take care of me thank you very much! I am perfectly capable of looking after myself, even if that means staying alone for the rest of my life and being called a feminist- because thats the excuse people who think otherwise tend to use.

Oh, its March 8th, lets go buy mom a present?! Why?! There are no other days, no other reasons to buy moms presents? They take care of us all their life, and yet, the only time we justify presents is on March 8th? Or what about our wives? Our sisters? Our friends? And I am not talking about massive, expensive presents, I am talking about simple things to express appreciation. Full stop!

Respect:

And what about Respect? Is this the only day in the year when women get to be respected? Not harassed? (Though I am sure as I write these words millions of women out there are getting harassed) Not treated like crap? Are employed as secretaries and lower paid jobs just because they are women and even if they are qualified to do better jobs (not to mention higher payed), just because their male boss(es) simply thinks he can, he does?!

Violence, tradition, norms:

What about violence? Do we honestly think that by being so sweet and kind on this day makes women who suffer violence suffer it less? Men who beat their wives, daughters and sisters less? Brothers who are ordered by their fathers to murder their sisters simply because some other man, looked at them? Young girls who are married off to older men simply because their fathers want to? Governments who pretend to care but never take measures against violence at home, gender equality and early marriages? 

And what about women who are forced to stay at home and take care of the households? Who are not allowed to study? Who are not allowed to travel? Who are not allowed to do anything?

Yes, it is March 8th, yes, we are flowers, yes, you love us all very much but lets just pause the frenzy for a moment. Perhaps, March 8th, should be the day, when we remind ourselves of the things other powerful, inspiring women have done in the world and take a lesson. Stop for a moment and think of all the injustice that was done against women and all the crimes that still are being committed against women simply because men can? Perhaps, this should be the day, when all of us, remind our governments and the world that a lot more needs to be done to improve the equality, to change mindsets, to educate, and then celebrate the cause. Happy International Women's Day! 

Azerbaijan ranks 100 out of 134 countries on Global Gender Gap 2010

World Economic Forum, released its 2010 Global Gender Gap report. According to the report, Azerbaijan ranks 100, dropping some 40 places over the last four years, perhaps finally getting to the right ranking after all these years. 

However, officials, like Jale Aliyeva, who is also among few female parliamentary representatives believes that the drop in ranking has to do with one- sided approach (whatever thats supposed to mean). Adding that, women's role increased in social political spheres. Its enough to look at women's participation in municipal elections- it increased seven fold. According to Ms. Aliyeva, there are also many female candidates running for the parliamentary elections (scheduled November 7th). 

What Ms. Aliyeva omits to say is that municipalities in Azerbaijan hold no value in regional governance. Nor do they do much work apart from collecting land tax. In fact, the only reason why Azerbaijan established municipalities back in 1999 was because of requirement put forward by the Council of Europe. They employ small number of people and survive by revenues received from selling and renting land and state subsidies. So women's participation and increased number mean very little. 

And as it can be seen from the table, Azerbaijan ranks 113 in political empowerment so I wonder where are those increased numbers that Ms. Aliyeva is talking about. 

Education is another sore spot. In fact, it is perhaps the worst. According to the Index, Azerbaijan ranks 93rd overall. 

Azerbaijan did manage to get in the rank of countries with Upper Middle Income (3,946- 12, 195USD) with a minimum salary and pension of 85EUR. An interesting fact...

Of course, there are myriad of reasons why Azerbaijan's performance dropped on an international scale. There is a law on gender equality but no one pays attention to it. There is still no law on domestic violence. Patriarchal values and traditions persist with girls taken out of schools or not allowed to continue with higher education due to marriage and obligations to their new families. Early marriage is another problem still wide- spread and most importantly women still do not know much of their rights, which remains a pressing issue all across the country.

These existing conditions will remain, so long as nothing is done on government levels. First thing first, the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Issues must present itself as credible institution because to this day, it is regarded as a joke, a place for women to gather, hold conferences, do training  on don't know what, meet, and still nor produce any tangible results. No one takes it seriously, perhaps its time some one does...

Humiliation, betrayal, helplessness

Violence against women is nothing new. Numerous international organizations fight for women's rights all around the world. And in Azerbaijan, violence against women is persistent in many regions if not widespread across the country. Hundreds if not thousands of women are subject to violence on daily basis.  

In the framework of "Youth for Gender Equality" [AZ] program  organized by AEGEE (European Students Forum) in Baku, a group of participants presented a video that tells a story of a girl who is married without her consent and eventually commits a suicide to free herself. 

I came across the video at Zjala Najafova's blog [AZ]- a talented and bright woman from Azerbaijan, who is also in the video:

 

A number of other videos were produced and are available on YouTube. The following are the titles and the links: 

- Color the equality with a pen of difference

 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zolfkXJb1F4)

- Gender discrimination in two parts 

 (PART 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Wy3ASrmGY&feature=related

  PART 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FygCdTbenJo&feature=related)

- Violence against women (the one embedded)

- Discriminated victims in two parts

 (PART 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVXbShgrUkM&feature=related 

  PART 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvrg8r8x81k&feature=related 

The gender equality question is often overlooked in Azerbaijan and preserving traditions and values are deemed more valuable than women's lives in this country in most cases. So I would like to congratulate the participants of the project on their great work and for bringing this fragile and yet very important issue up and sharing it with others. Well done guys!