TWO AZERI VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000184 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL, G/IWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ SUBJECT: TWO AZERI VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ¶1. (SBU) Summary: International Women's Day presented two opportunities to observe the role that women play in Azerbaijani society. The State Committee for Family, Women, and Children's Affairs held an expensive reception which awarded only women who hold high positions in the Aliyev regime. Participants left the event as soon as they politely could. In contrast, the Youth Club Public Union held an afternoon party for their female members which showcased over a dozen young women who have learned English, are applying to study abroad, and are looking to play an active, progressive role in their society. End Summary. GOVERNMENT VIEW -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On March 7 the GOAJ's State Committee on Family, Women, and Children's Affairs held a reception in honor of International Women's Day (March 8). The event was held in the Park Inn hotel, an expensive venue, which was decorated with larger than life size pictures of Heydar, Ilham, and first lady Mehriban Aliyev. Upon entering the reception, guests were handed long stem roses and goody bags of sample size cosmetics. After an opening speech by Committee Chairwoman Hijran Huseynova, which praised Azerbaijan and the activities of the first family, an announcer in a sequined suit presented awards to every high-ranking female government official. Loud music accompanied the announcement of each award. An award was also given the first lady's sister Nargiz Pashayeva, who lately became the rector of the newly opened branch of Moscow State University in Baku, despite Pashayeva not being present at the event. ¶3. (SBU) As could be expected, the mood at the event was largely self-congratulatory. Azerbaijan's leading ladies praised each other for their work. After the completion of the awards ceremony, most guests exited the event, even before the coffee and cake were served. YOUTH VIEW -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On March 8 POLOFF attended a party thrown by the recently formed Youth Club Public Union in honor of their female members. The club was founded by university student Zaur Akbar two years ago, and now has about fifty official members who attend several different universities in Baku. The theme of the club is to get students interested in western integration, and holds English conversation clubs every Sunday. They have also recently founded a subgroup for their female members which they say aims at female empowerment. The group was excited to announce to POLOFF that two of their members had been nominated for the Open World program to travel to the United States. ¶5. (SBU) The party was attended by about 25 group members, about two-thirds women and one-third men. Juice, soda, and sweets were on offer, but unlike parties their contemporaries in America might throw, there was no alcohol present. The event was held during the afternoon in the conference room of the FAR Center, an Azerbaijani NGO. The students were dressed in party clothes largely similar their American contemporaries, and danced to a mix of Turkish and American pop music, although the Turkish music was clearly more popular. They did not have any Azerbaijani music. Women and men danced largely separately, although this seemed more out of shyness than any cultural taboo. Overall, the students were excited for an opportunity to practice their English with a native speaker, asking POLOFF to come back to their meetings, and proudly displayed an Obama '08 poster. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The GOAJ event, which awarded women for holding titles while doing little practical work, gives the impression that women play a largely ceremonial role in Azerbaijani society. These women also seem to be a conservative force in the country, such as the Human Rights Ombudswoman who does little to promote human rights. The youth event, in contrast, showed that younger women are looking to play amore active role in the modernization of their country. They are clearly looking to the West for role models and for education opportunities, and will hopefully BAKU 00000184 002 OF 002 represent a progressive force in Azerbaijani society in the years to come. DERSE