Responding effectively to domestic violence takes more than good laws: it requires strong co-operation between institutions, consistent implementation on the ground, and ongoing exchange of good practice. Bringing together national institutions and international expertise offers a chance to take stock of current practice and identify how responses can be further strengthened in line with international standards.
To support this, the Council of Europe organised an expert roundtable in Baku, on 24 July 2026, on "Enhancing Co-operation and Legal Responses to Domestic Violence". The event brought together 23 representatives from the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Education, the Social Services Agency, the Ombudsperson's Office, the Azerbaijan Bar Association, civil society organisations and the European Union Delegation, reflecting the kind of multi-agency co-operation the roundtable itself aimed to promote.
Drawing on the experiences of Sweden and the Republic of Moldova, participants discussed Azerbaijan's current legislative and institutional framework for addressing domestic violence, the role of prosecution authorities in protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable, and the practical challenges of implementing domestic violence legislation. They also discussed recommendations for further strengthening the country's legal and institutional response.
Participants rated the roundtable as relevant to their professional work, noting that it offered useful insights into comparative legal approaches and the practical implementation of domestic violence legislation.
This event is part of the European Union and the Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance III”, 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."
