BAKU: Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, hosted a significant conference on “Water and Gender Equality,” organized jointly by the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan, the State Water Resources Agency, and ADA University. This event coincided with the global environmental summit, COP29, and aimed to address the intertwined issues of water resource management and gender equality.

According to Trend News Agency, the conference featured a panel session that included diverse participants such as government representatives, international organizations, members of the Azerbaijani Parliament, public figures, and students. Discussions at the panel centered on the impact of climate change on women’s lives, their pivotal roles in water conservation, motivation for choosing related specialties, and the importance of maintaining a gender balance in staff appointments within the sector.

Bahar Muradova, the Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan,
emphasized the universal importance of water conservation efforts. She remarked that access to clean water in Azerbaijan has not yet reached optimal levels and highlighted the historical and evolving roles of women in water management. “Water conservation is a universal task that demands participation from all, not limited to women. However, involving women in decision-making can lead to positive outcomes. Professional skills and training are crucial,” Muradova stated. She also expressed hope that COP29 would foster solutions beneficial not only to Azerbaijan but globally.

Zaur Mikayilov, the Chairman of the State Water Resources Agency, noted significant national efforts to improve water access. “The challenge of ensuring clean water access is global, significantly impacting women. We are committed to addressing this inequality with a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing water access in Azerbaijan,” Mikayilov explained. He also pointed out the increasing role of women in state-level water resource decis
ion-making processes, underscoring the goal of achieving equal water access for all citizens.