On 13-14 December 2023, in Baku, twenty police officers, thirteen judges and nine representatives of local executive authorities participated in two sessions on international standards for combating violence against women and domestic violence especially looking at protection orders for victims. Protection order for victims of violence against women and domestic violence are a crucial tool to ensure their protection when violence happens and to prevent recurrent violence.

Rosa Logar, Council of Europe consultant, introduced international standards and best practices on protection orders. She also presented recommendations on how to improve national legislation and practice on issuing protection orders based on an assessment of needs of Azerbaijan considering its international obligations and drawing from international best practices. The participants took an active part in discussions, exchanged ideas, and shared their professional experience. All participants agreed that since the police are on duty 24/7 and are the first line of professionals to provide protection of victims, the police should be exclusively entrusted with issuing short-term protection orders.

These events are part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in Azerbaijan”.