COVID-19 Domestic Violence Country Updates: Azerbaijan
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 1:30 PM

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In Azerbaijan, according to the head of the Clean World Women’s and Children’s shelter, domestic violence cases have doubled since the beginning of the pandemic. Gender researcher Nurlana Jalil has openly critiqued the Azerbaijani government for their lack of victim support programs during the pandemic. She notes that “[n]either city police departments, hospitals, nor the Ministry of Social Protection have established special hotlines for the problems faced by women during the quarantine period, nor have emergency services or other measures been organised for women victims of violence.” Her comments stand in stark contrast with those released by Elgun Safarov, member of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children, who has said that Azerbaijani authorities are responding to cases seriously and that online counseling and legal resources are available to those in need.