The initial stage of the Target Group Education series on gender based violence (GBV) held in the frames of the Combating Gender Based Violence in Azerbaijan Project (UNFPA) as of November 2009 has come to an end. The information sessions have covered approximately 1, 800 people in capital Baku as well as other cities and regions of the country.

The meetings constitute one of the major components of the project’s public awareness activities. Several target groups (13-18 year old young girls, 18-28 year old young boys and teachers) were educated on common gender issues, gender sensitivity, gender based discrimination and GBV through the sessions held until the end of February, 2010. 

The information sessions were conducted by the team of educators trained during the Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions held in the framework of the Combating Gender Based Violence in Azerbaijan Project during April and May of the last year. The training modules used at the events have also been developed in the frames of the project by the experienced experts and trainers on gender issues.
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The information sessions for 13-18 year old young girls were conducted with technical assistance of the local NGO “Yuva” Humanitarian Center in Pirakushkul, Yashma, Masazir villages located around Baku, IDP school and hostels in Baku, Sumgayit, Shirvan and Shamakha cities. About 600 young girls have been educated through the sessions. Particular consideration during the meetings was paid to ensuring the representation of participants from vulnerable groups of population in these meetings (refuges and IDPs, the people with disabilities, children deprived of parental care).
 
Information sessions for teachers have been organized by another local NGO “Potensial” Sumgayit Specialists Union in secondary and technical schools of Sumgayit city as well as Siyazan, Guba, Khachmaz districts. Approximately 20 female and male teachers attended the meetings. The role of secondary school teachers in the process of eliminating the GBV through educating the boys was among the most important issues emphasized during the meetings.  
 
The Social Development Public Union “Taraggi” was responsible for conduction of information sessions for 18-26 year old young boys with low income residing in Masalli, Lenkaran, Astara, Sheki, Gakh, Zagatala, Guba, Gusar and Khacmaz districts.
 
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UNFPA’s Combating Gender Based Violence in Azerbaijan Project will continue public awareness campaign on gender based violence for various target groups (three thousand people) during the current project year.