In 1919, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic became the first Muslim majority country to allow women full participation in the political process. From 1920 to 1990, the country was under Soviet rule, where social norms and rules hindered the advancement of women’s rights. After gaining its independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan began its transition from an autocracy to a constitutional government which included building gender relations on the basis of democratic principles. In 1998, Zahra Guliyeva, one of the leaders of the women’s movement in Azerbaijan, was named Chairperson of the State Committee for Women’s Issues established by the government to enhance women’s roles within the country. That same year, a Gender and Development project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme effectively advanced gender equality. The project offered multi-faceted support to the State Committee for Women’s Issues, NGOs, and allowed for women to participate in governmental elections.
Gymnastics, table tennis, and volleyball are the sports with the greatest female participation in Azerbaijan. The women’s national volleyball team placed fourth at the 2005 European Championship and the Azerbaijan Women’s Volleyball Super League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. In recent years, the Ministry of Youth and Sport has focused on increasing the number of female coaches and getting more girls and women involved in sports. Many of Azerbaijan’s sports federations have included gender equality in their overall long-term plans including increasing the number of women in decision-making positions.
Meet and support global leaders creating change in Azerbaijan:
Salhat Abbasova
How does Azerbaijan compare to other countries?
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Women in Leadership
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT AS OF 2020
17%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY POSITIONS AS OF 2020
3%
Has a Woman Ever Been Head of State or Head of Government?
No
HAS A WOMAN EVER BEEN SPORTS MINISTER?
Unknown
Title IX Timeline
1918
Azerbaijan gained independence from the Russian Empire.
1919
Women gained the right to vote (full suffrage).
1922
Azerbaijan was invaded by the Red Army and became part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
1991
Azerbaijan gained independence on October 18th with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
1995
Accession of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW).
1996
Elvira Cabbarova, Zülfiyyə Hüseynova, and İradə Aşumova became the first women to represent Azerbaijan in the Olympics.
2000
Zemfira Meftəkhətddinova won a gold medal in shooting to become the first woman from Azerbaijan to win an Olympic medal. In the same year, Yelena Taranova became the first woman from Azerbaijan to participate in the Paralympics and to win a Paralympic medal (silver, shooting). Azerbaijan signed the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
2001
Azerbaijan ratified the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
Women in the olympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
5
-
28
-
30
-
16
Women in the Paralympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
3
-
10
-
12
Elite Sports Participation
First Year Women Participated In The Olympics
1996
Year Women’s Participation In Olympics Was Equal To Men’s
1998
First Time A Woman Won An Olympic Medal
Zemfira Meftekhetddinova: 2000, Shooting (Gold)
First Year Women Participated In The Paralympics
2000
Year Women’s Participation In Paralympics Was Equal To Men’s
As of 2020, women's participation was still less than men's.
First Time A Woman Won A Paralympic Medal
Yelena Taranova: 2000, Shooting (Silver)
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
2006
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Several regions have held the “Live Your Goals” festival in order to engage young girls to engage in sport.
FIFA is committed to the growth and development of women’s football around the globe.
For More Information
Azerbaijan encourages girls to Live Your Goals
FIFA: Women's Development Program
FIBA
Fédération Internationale de Basketball
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1997
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Increasing the participation of women in basketball at all levels was named as one of FIBA’s eight strategic objectives (2019- 2027) and one of FIBA’s three strategic priorities (2019-2023).
For More Information
LOCAL
Sports
Initiatives
Major Regional Or Country Sport Initiatives
Community Organizations That Have Signed The Brighton + Helsinki Declaration
