BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 17. At the request of Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, Sevil Mikayilova, Vice President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) from Azerbaijan, Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament, spoke in New York during the Intergenerational dialogue among women and men MPs on the theme "Supporting the political participation of women", Trend reports.
The dialogue was organized under the WYDE | Women’s Leadership Initiative, a collaborative effort funded by the European Union and implemented by UN Women, together with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
In her speech, Sevil Mikayilova emphasized the urgent need to develop an active civil society that supports and encourages women's active participation in all areas of public life.
"We need to continue promoting social projects and initiatives that encourage women to become leaders, decision-makers, and active participants in shaping the future. However, this cannot be achieved without changing societal attitudes toward women’s roles, particularly in politics. The role of parliaments in this process cannot be overstated, as they must become central to driving public diplomacy and fostering inclusive and gender-sensitive policies. It is critical that we find ways to address the social issues women face, ensuring they are heard, represented, and empowered at every level," she said.
Sevil Mikayilova also discussed the steps being taken in Azerbaijan to foster broader and more equal development. The MP specifically highlighted the successful work of First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.
"Azerbaijan is making significant strides in expanding the role of women in politics and leadership. First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva is the embodiment of a modern Azerbaijani woman. She represents a strong, bright personality in the contemporary history of our country," she said, adding that at the initiative of the First Vice-President, dozens of programs are being implemented in Azerbaijan aimed at improving the quality of life for citizens.
In her speech, Sevil Mikayilova also highlighted Azerbaijan's significant progress toward gender equality, noting that women are well-represented in the Azerbaijani Parliament and that the position of Speaker is held by a woman.
Speaking about the challenges women face worldwide in their efforts to actively engage in public life, the MP pointed out that women in public roles are unfortunately often subjected to specific forms of violence or abuse.
"We need to work over a universal law or a legislative act that will regulate the social media platforms so that to avoid the violent breach of human rights. Taking into account the speedy rise of the upcoming AI era, the problem gains a more dangerous shape making us think in depth. So, the national parliaments can come with initiatives, demonstrate solidarity, and draft up an international convention which we as IPU will foster," the MP concluded.
Sevil Mikayilova and MP Soltan Mammadov traveled to New York on February 10 to take part in meetings of the organizing committees for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, and the UN Parliamentary Hearings.
Bringing together around 300 participants - including parliamentarians, consultants, and experts from more than 60 countries - the hearings focused on revitalizing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and discussing the role of parliaments in this effort.
The MPs' visit to New York wrapped up on February 16.