last updated February 28, 2005

In 1999, the Government Committee on the Problems of Women began drafting a National Plan of Action for adoption by the Cabinet of Ministers. According to the 2003 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Azerbaijan ratified the National Plan of Action on 6 March 2000. Part of the plan addresses issues such as the prevention of violence against women, trafficking in women and the exploitation of women through prostitution. The plan also provides for measures such as legal proceedings against offenders who violate women's human rights. The plan also sets out guidelines regarding the participation of women in peace-building and post-conflict processes. On 18 May 2004, Azerbaijan adopted a new national action plan to combat trafficking according to the OSCE. This new plan further improves the ability of government to prevent trafficking and protect vitims by consolidating resources, creating programs within the government and improving the legal framework.

Azerbaijan has not yet submitted a copy of the National Plan of Action to the UN Division for the Advancement of Women nor has it responded to the first questionnaire. Azerbaijan has responded to the second questionnaire; responses are available in English and in Russian. 

According to a Council of Europe report on national machinery, action plans and gender mainstreaming since the Fourth World Conference on Women, Azerbaijan has no special national institutional machinery to promote gender equality. A new institution, the State Committee on Women's Issues, was established on 14 January 1998 by decree of the President. This Committee monitors gender policy within Azerbaijan.