The participants in the seminar were women engaged in social and political activities, business state bodies, NGOs, scientific institutions from Baku and the regions. Guests from the Czech Republic, Turkey, Lithuania and Bulgaria made an overview of the women’s participation in politics in their countries. A book with the presentations in English and Azerbaijani will be released in order to be used further for reference and other seminars.

The main conclusion was that the 30% of critical mass for women’s participation, though higher in the Baltic and CEE countries in comparison with the Caucasus, it is still a target to be achieved. Moreover, women in post-socialist countries have been undergoing through very similar problems related to the development process, the major one being the neo-conservative backlash regarding the role of women and the restrictions they face due to increased and feminized poverty, religious fundamentalism, patriarchal traditions and economic dependence. In that sense, it is necessary that the progressive people and especially active women in these countries exchange experience and support each other in order to effectively change mentalities and overcome the existing situation. Therefore, the participants in the seminar decided to establish an informal network for information exchange and encouragement of women to participate actively in the political processes.   

The results of the seminar were popularized through a live talk show on the National TV of Azerbaijan with the participation of the lecturers from Turkey, Lithuania and Bulgaria. The TV show "Women and elections" was held after the seminar and presented the issues discussed during the seminar and its outcomes to the broad public, as well as the comments of the foreign experts. 

The participants in the seminar signed a Memorandum addressing the progressive people in their countries to support and encourage women’s participation in the political processes and the governments to create the necessary conditions for that by implementing their commitments to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Please find the text of the Memorandum below and undersign it by responding by e-mail to cwsp@cwsp.bg; Subject: Memorandum on political participation of women.

Memorandum: Memorandum_en.pdf (57.3 Kb)