Contributed by: Gabrijela Mihovia, Macedonia National VAW Monitor

The Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women-ESE participated in the International Women Lawyers Conference, “Forging the Path.” The Conference took place in Baku, Azerbaijan during 27-28 November 2006.  In attendance were several non-governmental organizations, employees of Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, representatives from Ombudsman office, etc.

The conference was dedicated to the concept of gender equality with a focus on problems of domestic violence, ideas and strategies for an effective response, criminal regulation of domestic violence, gender equality legislation and women’s participation in legal associations. Sessions were directed by experts from ABA-CEELI, OSCE and the Eurasian Lawyers Association, as well as by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the United Kingdom, Macedonia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine.

In the Opening Plenary, Robin Seaword, Deputy Head of OSCE Office in Baku, presented the mandate of OSCE in Azerbaijan. The Counselor of Political and Economic Affairs for the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, Joan Polaschik, expressed determination for empowering the position of women in Azerbaijan. Faig Gurbanov, Head of Human Rights and Public Relations Department from Ministry of Justice, expressed support for women's human rights and their protection in compliance with international documents signed by Azerbaijan. Sadagat Gahramanova, Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Issues of the Republic of Azerbaijan, also provided motivational support on behalf of her department. Nadir Adilov, Chairman of Eurasian Lawyers Association, as partner organization in realization of the event, addressed the necessity of exchanging experiences amongst NGO representatives regarding the topic.

Following the opening remarks, keynote speaker Wendy Patten, representative from ABA-CEELI (USA), addressed domestic violence and strategies for effective response. Participants then had the opportunity to choose between three morning breakout sessions on the topics of legislation for gender equality in Georgia, challenging domestic violence through institutional change, and women’s participation in legal associations. Sessions were facilitated by Marina Meskhi, Head of State Fund for Protection and Assistance of Victims of Human Trafficking from Georgia and Ia Dadunashvili; Ruth Lewis, a domestic violence researcher from the United Kingdom; and Nasrin Khan, a government lawyer from Great Britain.      

Discussions in the afternoon and evening breakout sessions concentrated on: Creation of a Women’s BAR Association; Gender Equality and Domestic Violence Legislation in Azerbaijan; and Setting Up a Legal Practice. 

Macedonian representative Mihova Gabriela (ESE) participated as a panelist on an additional session on the Development of Domestic Violence Legislation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The presentation was focused on the lobbying process regarding domestic violence. New ideas was developed amongst participants concerning regulation of domestic violence within Azeri legislation.

The second day commenced with a keynote speech on The Kyrgyz Model for Gender Equality Legislation.  Concurrent sessions were held on Gender Equality and Labour Code in Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan; Domestic Violence and Criminal Code; Balancing Our Lives as Mother, Wife and Lawyer; Gender Equality and Family Codes in Iran and Ukraine; Domestic Violence and Trafficking in Women; Enlarging Women’s Participation in Business and Government; and Analysis of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan through the Prism of Gender Equality. Concluding statements were made on "Positive Discrimination or What is so Positive About It?" and "Challenging Domestic Violence: New Directions and Women’s Participation in Legal Associations."

As a result of the conference, experts and participants from different states, NGOs and governmental bodies had the opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge to further their work dedicated to combating domestic violence and promoting gender equality.