On February 13, 2026, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs held a collegium meeting dedicated to summarizing the results of the previous year. The meeting discussed the activities carried out in 2025, the results achieved, as well as upcoming tasks, and adopted relevant decisions.

In line with the agenda, the Chairperson of the State Committee, Ms. Bahar Muradova, delivered a presentation on the outcomes of the Committee’s work in 2025. She spoke about the implementation of family, women, and child policies, the legislative improvements made, and the projects carried out. She also provided information on the events organized within the framework of the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty,” and presented analytical findings and several statistical indicators.

Ms. B. Muradova stated that three important draft documents were approved last year, and five draft normative legal acts were prepared and submitted for approval. She emphasized that consolidated reports had been submitted regarding the implementation of the Communication Strategy Action Plan for 2024–2026, the state of ensuring children's rights, and the implementation of awareness-raising measures on the negative consequences of early and consanguineous marriages.

She also noted that four analytical reports had been prepared—on the risk map of early marriages, factors influencing suicide among adolescents, the socio-economic impacts on the family institution, and adolescents’ understanding of legal rights. In addition, monitoring had been conducted in 17 child institutions, and she presented the main findings.

Referring to Article 20 of the Law “On Ensuring Gender Equality between Men and Women,” Ms. B. Muradova stated that the Committee’s 2024 annual report had been submitted to the Milli Majlis (National Assembly), discussed, adopted, and shared with over 200 organizations. She added that monitoring and coordination mechanisms on domestic violence had been strengthened, with 30% more protection orders issued compared to 2023. The Chairperson also highlighted that the Secretariat of the Commission on the Rights of the Child had been established last year, institutional coordination in this field had been strengthened, and cooperation with mediation institutions, local self-governance bodies, and higher education institutions had been expanded.

Speaking about major steps taken in the field of women’s empowerment and gender issues, Ms. B. Muradova emphasized the important initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s capacities and skills. She mentioned projects supporting girls’ education, such as the “Hanifa Malikova-Zardabi Scholarship Program,” the “You Are Not Alone” support project for the wives of martyrs, and the “We Have a Dream” program, noting that a total of 294 participants had benefited from these projects over five years.

Highlighting the Committee’s active engagement in international cooperation, the Chairperson stated that partnerships with international organizations and foreign counterparts had been further expanded. She mentioned initiatives presented at international events and platforms and noted strengthened coordination with the working groups on implementing the recommendations of the CEDAW and the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

At the end of her speech, Ms. B. Muradova presented annual statistics on citizen appeals received by the Committee, as well as on the activities of the Child and Family Support Centers and the organization of open-door days.

At the meeting, the Chairperson of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, Ms. Ramila Seyidova, delivered a speech outlining the work carried out in Nakhchivan in accordance with state policy in this area. She presented statistical indicators related to the implementation of relevant legal documents and state programs adopted during the year and mentioned the wide-ranging awareness campaigns on family, women, and children issues, as well as work with families in conflict and people in difficult life situations carried out within the “Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty.”

The second item on the agenda focused on the Committee’s work plan for the first half of 2026. The Chief of Staff of the Committee, Ms. Jeyran Rahmatullayeva, presented the planned activities, noting that efforts would continue to promote family values, ensure gender equality, protect children’s rights, improve the legal and regulatory framework, and strengthen cooperation with the public.

The meeting also discussed the implementation of the “National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2026–2028.” Deputy Chairperson Ms. Sadagat Gahramanova presented the planned activities under this document, noting that the Action Plan aims to enhance legal and institutional mechanisms for ensuring gender equality, increase women’s socio-economic participation, and strengthen the fight against discrimination. The Plan envisions the integration of a gender-sensitive approach in education, employment, climate change, and media sectors, as well as the strengthening of coordination groups at central and local levels.

Another item on the agenda concerned the upcoming conference titled “Sustainable Development: Family, Women, and Child Policy.” Deputy Chairperson Ms. Aynur Sofiyeva spoke about the purpose and expected outcomes of the conference, emphasizing the importance of forming strategic priorities and transitioning to a new stage in policy implementation. She stated that the conference would contribute to a systematic, multidisciplinary, and future-oriented approach, and announced that preparatory work had begun and a Working Group had been established for its organization.

The next issue discussed was the organization of the international conference “Empowering Women’s Voices in the AQEM Space for Sustainable Development” and the first meeting of the CICA Women’s Council. The Head of the Foreign Relations and Protocol Department, Mr. Nureddin Babazade, provided information about the significance and organizational aspects of the event.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Family, Women, and Children Affairs, Ms. Hijran Huseynova, praised the State Committee’s performance and the work carried out during the reporting period. She noted that since its establishment, the Committee has consistently worked toward protecting the family institution, strengthening the women’s movement, and safeguarding children’s rights. She added that the Committee actively engages other state and non-state institutions in its work and implements large-scale joint projects.

Ms. Bahar Muradova, emphasized the importance of ensuring the timely and high-quality implementation of the tasks ahead. She underlined the need for consistent and systematic execution of the adopted decisions, strengthening coordination among relevant institutions, and further intensifying efforts in the identified priority areas.