Two information sessions on “Gender equality and media” were organized on 27-28 February 2019 in Ganja by the Council of Europe under its project "Gender Equality and Media Freedom in Azerbaijan". The main aim of the information sessions was to present the Code of professional ethics for Azerbaijani journalists, recently revised from a gender equality perspective and to promote the new rules among journalists from the regions. The information sessions also raised awareness on the Council of Europe standards on gender equality and media freedom.

In his opening speech Mr Zoltan Hernyes, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Baku mentioned that this year is marked by several important anniversaries and reminded two of them which are of particular relevance to the information sessions - the 100th anniversary of a landmark law adopted by the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, granting voting rights to all individuals, including women and the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe. He called it highly symbolic, that in the context of these two anniversaries, the information sessions on “Gender equality and media” took place in Ganja, in the first capital of the ADR.

The information sessions were organized in close cooperation with the Ombudsman Office and the Press Council and conducted by the experienced local consultants and representatives of civil society. Two information sessions brought together over 40 journalists and representatives of civil society from Ganja and nearby regions - Yevlakh, Barda, Tartar, Gazakh, Goranboy, Tovuz and Shamkir.

Media coverage of the events:

• Link
• Link
• Link
• Link
• Link