Strong Woman – Strong Society
Step forward in solidarity for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 on March 8 to help #AccelerateAction.
At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.
Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
The EU-Azerbaijan partnership has supported numerous EU-funded projects aimed at promoting gender equality. These initiatives extend beyond empowering women, also engaging men and children to foster a more inclusive and balanced society. Throughout the “Strong Woman, Strong Society” campaign, inspiring stories of beneficiaries will be highlighted, showcasing the real impact of these projects. Their experiences reflect the power of collaboration, opportunity, and change in advancing gender equality.
So, together, let’s Accelerate Action to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.
“Breaking Barriers & Overcoming Challenges”
On Friday, 7 March 2025, the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Azerbaijan, and the Young European Ambassadors (YEAs), organised the “Breaking Barriers & Overcoming Challenges” event within a new campaign to mark the International Women’s Day under the slogan “GÜCLÜ QADIN, GÜCLÜ CƏMİYYƏT” (Strong Women, Strong Society).
STRONG WOMAN, STRONG SOCIETY
On Wednesday, 12 March 2025, the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan launched a new campaign to mark International Women’s Day under the slogan “Strong Women, Strong Society” at a special event held in Baku. The event also included the opening of “Colours of Europe” art exhibition of Azerbaijani women artists and displayed the “Outstanding Polish Women” exhibition of the Embassy of Poland in Baku.
Latvian feature film “Maria’s Silence” at Park Cinema
Cinema enthusiasts had the chance to experience the Latvian feature film “Maria’s Silence” at a free screening held at Park Cinema (Flame Towers) on Friday, 11 April. The event was organised by the Embassy of Latvia in Azerbaijan with support from the EU Delegation and was the final event of the “Strong Woman, Strong Society” campaign, marking International Women’s Day 2025.
When a woman deminer talks
Samaya Ahmadli: My father supported me in this decision, he always stood behind me
A.N.S. – A new proprietary name to identify Shaki
Aynur, Nigar, and Salima Karimova narrate their exulting story.
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aynur, Nigar, and Salimə Karimova could not even fathom that they would come out of the experience with the new A.N.S. brand. Everything changed overnight.
A teacher’s orchard
Raftara Shukurova, a beneficiary of several EU-funded projects and the owner of the Citrus Valley horticulture farm, believes that teaching has a lot in common with gardening…
Quite an accomplishment for two hands and ten fingers
She wears a lot of hats during the high season, preparing 1,200 jars of pickled cucumbers and another 1,800 jars of ajika (spicy dip to flavor food), and cooking 40 pieces of pirozhki (hand-sized yeast-leavened buns) per hour.
A dolly trailer for beehives
Last summer, dreams finally came true for beekeeper Nazakat Jamalova, a beneficiary of two EU-funded projects and a resident of Hanifa rural settlement in Balakan.
“Çinar” – a tree of hope for a dozen women
A resident of Yukhari Tala, a rural settlement in Azerbaijan’s northwestern administrative district of Zagatala, and a beneficiary of an EU initiative, Saadat Dibirova speaks of the women who founded Çinar, the country’s first women’s cooperative.
An Italian watch
Aytan Khalilzada, a young fashion designer and RozSev brand creator, underwent a one-month fashion design course at the Instituto di Moda Burgo, a private school of fashion, in Milan last summer, after receiving a mobility grant under the EU4Culture project.
As a beneficiary and ‘Papa’ diploma holder under the EU-funded project School for dads – a transformation of responsible fatherhood, implemented jointly by UN Women and UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Ravan Jabrayilov, nevertheless, beleives that neither fatherhood lessons nor exams are set to be over.
A window of opportunity during COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic locked many people down in their places of residence, they went against the mainstream, opening their doors [to visitors] in remote rural settlements (Gushchu, Birinji Chayli, Goylar, Chukhuryurd, Malikchobanli, and Sabir) of Shamakhi, an administrative district in the eastern part of Azerbaijan, some 120-140 km west of Baku, the country’s capital.
Turning a hobby into a business
English teacher Vusala Akhmadova, a resident of Tovuz in western Azerbaijan, helps women and children develop. She opened the Edu Prime education academy in her hometown.