Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network addressed the 2nd Session of the Women Parliamentary Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean

On 27 January, Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network delivered a speech at the 2nd Session of the Women Parliamentary Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean on the theme “Empowering Women for Cohesive and Inclusive Societies: From the Gulf to the Mediterranean”, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the session, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova noted that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean serves as a platform for dialogue, solidarity, and mutual understanding. According to Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, placing particular emphasis on gender equality and the empowerment of women is a clear demonstration of the Assembly’s sustained commitment to collective action in pursuit of common goals.

She also noted Azerbaijan’s interest in developing relations between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, currently chaired by the Milli Majlis. It was emphasized that a representative of the Assembly participated in the 4th Conference of the Parliamentary Network held in Tashkent in April last year. The Speaker stated that establishing institutional ties between the two bodies through the granting of mutual observer status and the signing of a cooperation agreement would make a significant contribution to the overall objectives of parliamentary diplomacy.

Sharing her views on the importance of the theme of the event, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova stated that gender equality and the empowerment of women have rightly been identified as one of the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are not only aspirational but are also essential for building a more just world and ensuring a better future for coming generations. At the same time, noting that serious challenges still remain, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis emphasized that these challenges are not confined to any single country or region, but are global in nature. Therefore, progress in this area can be achieved not only through national efforts, but also through sustained and coordinated action at the international level. In this context, today’s discussions once again highlight the importance of international cooperation, particularly cooperation among parliamentarians who represent our peoples.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova stated that, first and foremost, real and sustainable progress depends on changing prevailing mindsets within society. The principle that women and men are equal in essence must be firmly established as a fundamental societal value. On the other hand, without the full and equal participation of women in public life and decision-making processes, it is impossible to build a strong, prosperous, and sustainable society. Any initiative that fails to take into account the rights and potential of half of society is inevitably unsustainable.

In addition, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova emphasized that the Parliament of Azerbaijan firmly supports international cooperation in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, and actively participates in the work of various international platforms. She expressed hope that the discussions held within the framework of this Forum would yield tangible results and contribute to advancing the shared objective of empowering women—an objective that is a key prerequisite for strengthening social solidarity, sustainability, and sustainable development in our region.