UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia concludes visit to Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, 12 January 2024 – UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe, Regina De Dominicis today concluded her first official visit to Azerbaijan.

During the visit, De Dominicis met with Prime Minister Ali Asadov and government officials including Minister of Health Teymur Musayev, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov to discuss key priorities for children and reaffirm UNICEF’s commitment to continue working together to ensure that all children in Azerbaijan have equitable access to quality protection services, health care, education and social support.

De Dominicis commended the Government on its work to advance children’s rights including its investment in health care for mothers and children, child protection services and inclusive preschools and schools to ensure children with disabilities can learn alongside their peers. De Dominicis also commended the Government on its successful bid to host the COP29.

“COP29 presents a critical opportunity for Azerbaijan to lead the way in ensuring that children are at the forefront of climate discussions and finance plans.”

“The Government’s investment in protecting children’s rights has resulted in a significant reduction in child mortality and an increase in access to quality inclusive education for the most marginalized children. We look forward to working together to support the scale up of these efforts to reach all children with primary health care, social protection and education,” said De Dominicis.

De Dominicis met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov to offer UNICEF’s technical support to ensure key services that children depend on are adapted and strengthened to withstand the impacts of climate change, and to ensure children are empowered to be active, meaningful participants in climate action.

“COP29 presents a critical opportunity for Azerbaijan to lead the way in ensuring that children are at the forefront of climate discussions and finance plans. Starting early with environmental education and greening education of young people is one of the most effective and efficient adaptation and mitigation strategies government can invest in. Yet only 1% of climate finance goes to education,” said De Dominicis.

“I met with Roya, a teacher and mother of two, who is concerned about keeping children safe in the areas where risks are the highest.”

De Dominicis also met children of families displaced from mined areas who have received life-saving education on the risks posed by landmines and other explosive ordnance and how to protect themselves from these threats. The UNICEF-supported programme has reached more than 124,000 people including 46,000 children with explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) sessions.

“I met with Roya, a teacher and mother of two, who is concerned about keeping children safe in the areas where risks are the highest. UNICEF will continue supporting its partners to ensure that all communities are protected against the dangers of landmines and other explosive ordnance, ensuring safety for every child,” said De Dominicis.

UNICEF has been working in Azerbaijan since 1993 and has been supporting the Government in the design and implementation of programmes to address the needs of children in areas of child protection, health care, education and social policy, with a focus on the most marginalised children.