Participants at the roundtable on children's rights in Gabala, Azerbaijan
To mark Universal Children’s Day (20 November), the UN DPI Office in Azerbaijan teamed up with the National Non-Governmental Organizations Forum of Azerbaijan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Azerbaijani office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and organized a roundtable that took place on 13 November 2008 in Gabala, located 220 km northwest of Baku.
Approximately 50 participants representing government institutions, human rights groups, media, academia and grassroots organizations attended the event to explore various aspects of children's rights in Azerbaijan, particularly in rural areas.
Speakers stressed that every child has a right to be free of exploitation, violence, neglect, and extreme poverty. Many speakers also highlighted the importance of a proper education, health services and consistent support systems as well as love, hope and encouragement in order to enable children to develop into healthy, capable adults. In addition, both government and non-governmental representatives highlighted the importance of strengthening education campaigns on violence against children.
The roundtable participants discussed whether the appropriate policies and legal frameworks for the protection of children are being put in place in Azerbaijan. They pledged to help needy families by providing educational support to their children, by organizing summer camps and by increasing the profile of children's rights in the region.