Baku hosts NAM conference on rights and women empowerment

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is the world’s largest international organization after the United Nations, currently comprising 120 members spanning all four corners of the globe. For the past years, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev held the chairperson’s position. The Non-Aligned Movement Conference on Advancing the Rights and Empowerment of Women has kicked off in Baku.

The conference was held on November 20 drawing heads of state and government of different countries at Azerbaijan capital of Baku.

The conference was co-organized by Azerbaijan, the current Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as Uganda and Uzbekistan, the next chairs of the organization.

On the first day of the conference, a side event organized by the Institute of Young Democrats provided an excellent opportunity for NAM Member States, UN entities, and NGOs to discuss themes of women's rights, women's empowerment, and other critical gender equality issues.

The Institute for Young Democrats is a national human rights organization of Azerbaijan that believes in putting women and girls' rights at the heart of the global recovery for a gender-equal world.

The conference featured discussions on topics such as the development of women's rights and empowerment of women within the NAM, as well as women`s important role in sustainable development, economic growth, peace and security issues and other areas.

The conference is attended by nearly 60 delegations, including the representatives of the NAM member states and the states with observer status under the organization, international organizations, as well as the high-ranking officials invited as special guests.

In her opening speech, Chairperson of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Bahar Muradova read out President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s address to the event participants.

Chairperson Institute of Young Democrats Hajiyeva said “I am proud to welcome such high-level guests, participants, composed entirely of NAM members state. This is a first for the NAM region countries and by doing so, we have sent a strong signal that women's empowerment and gender equality are at the top of our agenda.”

Barrister Miti Sanjana, a women’s rights advocate from Bangladesh, attended the conference.  :

Throughout its history, the NAM has played a fundamental role in the preservation of world peace and security.

The chairmanship of NAM will be built on three main priorities, among others increasing the effectiveness of the Movement to further enhance the reputation of the organisation on the global stage.