The lucky number seven

The male vs. female equality is a topic widely debated not only in Azerbaijan but in many countries across the world. We do not question the reality of what if we actually were not born just because we were a boy or a girl or our parents made that decision for us. Imagine that your life abruptly ended somewhere down the first few weeks. It is hard to imagine, because it didn't happen to many of us but we should not forget about so many lives of tiny, helpless, little human beings that are ended just because their parents or elders or uncles and brothers chose to do so because they are simply the male figure, because they can.

This is an article I wrote recently for Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso on selective abortion in Azerbaijan. It makes me wonder how many lives were ended, do you?

Azerbaijan Seven Sons and One Daughter

Child marriage

It was on one of my visits to Azerbaijan for field work, when I met young girls still in school, engaged, waiting to get married. Child marriage is a problem everywhere across the world. In countries like Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and elsewhere this is considered a common practice. The younger the bride, the better is the common thinking. No one thinks of their future, their education, their life as young mothers- to- be. 

This documentary takes us on a journey of child marriage and abuse. All the while men in most of these countries including Azerbaijan get special satisfaction in luring young girls into the world of abuse, anger and pain. We must take responsibility for our actions. Parents of these young girls who get engaged or married off at a young age, must take responsibility and understand that a girl, is not a thing to be sold for money, food or a house. A daughter is a human being too who has equal rights as her brothers. We must continue raising awareness and educating those who don't know...

You can learn more about the project here.