Today, nearly 100 stakeholders representing government, international organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and local NGOs participated in a Women Leadership Conference organized by the Women Participation Program (WPP) in partnership with the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan.

The Conference served as an excellent opportunity to bring together women’s civil society organizations (CSO), government officials and parliamentarians to discuss how to assist Civil Society Organizations to play an effective role in the policy-making process for addressing women priority issues, such as women leadership and broader women participation in decision making. The event also strengthened Government–NGO cooperation in fulfilling obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

“This is an important event that promotes dialogue between government and civil society. By bringing together women CSO’s, parliamentarians and government, representatives of women groups, the conference will create a solid platform for advocating issues that are important for women.  By the end of the conference, participants will choose priority issues, prepare recommendations on those issues, and submit them to the Government.” said Mr. Michael Greene, USAID/Azerbaijan Mission Director.

“This Conference is a visible product of mutual cooperation between the U.S. Government and the Azerbaijani Government in the area of empowerment of women in this country”, emphasized Ms. Hijran Huseynova, Head of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs.

Ms. Sibel Berzeg, Vice-President of Counterpart International, stated that “I have no doubt that this event will strengthen Government–NGO cooperation in fulfilling CEDAW obligations, which is fundamentally important.”

WPP also issued Women’s Leadership Awards to elevate the profile of and further support women who have put themselves at the forefront of positive change in the areas of civil society, governance, journalism and legislative action supporting women’s issues. There are four award categories: Women in Media, Women in Civil Society, Women in Governance, and Men Supporting Women’s Empowerment. One winner has been selected in each nomination category.

The Women Participation Program, implemented by Counterpart International, is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and aimed at improving the status of women in Azerbaijan by advancing public awareness of issues important to women, advancing women’s influence in decision making processes, and developing the capacity of women-focused civil society organizations and government institutions that work on women’s issues.