Media training was held on the topic "The role of the media in combating human trafficking: the rights of women and children"

On March 29, 2023, a training on the topic "The role of the media in combating human trafficking: the rights of women and children" was held for media representatives, organized by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs (SCFWCA) in order to implement the relevant paragraphs of the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan was represented at the event by Aykhan Sadigli, chief adviser of the Department of Law and International Cooperation, and Gunay Khalilzade, senior adviser of the Communications Division of the Council.

Speaking at the training session, Sadagat Gahramanova, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee, noted that there are a number of problems in our society as a whole and that solutions are being sought, pointing out that domestic violence is at the root of early marriages, educational evasion and other similar problems.

Elgun Safarov, a member of the UN Committee on the CEDAW, provided participants with information on the recommendations of the sixth periodic report of the Government of Azerbaijan submitted to the UN Committee on the CEDAW in 2022 and the fifth and sixth joint periodic reports of the Government of Azerbaijan under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in January 2023.

Aykhan Sadigli, the representative of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan informed the participants about the educational function of the media and its role in combating human trafficking, then he brought to the attention of media representatives a number of provisions containing the above mentioned topic based on the "Law on Media".

At the same time, he drew attention to the nuances that require special attention and sensitivity in bringing information about trafficked persons to the public, stressing the importance of the principles of accuracy, evidence-based validity, impartiality, humanity, accountability and transparency in media coverage on this topic.

Then discussions took place between the guests and the journalists participating in the training, during which representatives of the Audiovisual Council answered questions from journalists.

At the end of the event, distinguished media representatives were awarded certificates of the SCFWCA of the Republic of Azerbaijan.