The CGBV PCU participated in the workshop organized by the OHCHR for media representatives in Quba on June 15, 2010. The National Project Coordinator conducted a session on “Women’s rights: the obligations of the Azerbaijani government to CEDAW. The role of the media in addressing the GBV violence”. The workshop brought together the representatives of several UN agencies, the representatives of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Republic, as well as journalists representing national and local media agencies. The workshop aimed at providing the audience consisting of 15 people with the information on UN human rights system, UN treaty-based mechanisms, major UN treaties, the issues related to human rights and ethics in media, women and child rights and other related topics.

The GBV project’s presentation focused predominantly on the issues concerning the effective protection and promotion of women’s rights in general and addressing the cases of GBV in particular. The participants were provided with comprehensive information on the major international women’s rights document – CEDAW, the process of its development, the major issues addressed by the treaty, its ratification status as well as the obligations of the Azerbaijani government under this document. A second section of the presentation was on the issues concerning major gender concepts, gender definitions, gender stereotypes, gender discrimination, various forms of GBV, its causes and consequences, costs of GBV and analysis of the GBV coverage in media. The special emphasis was placed on raising the issues of absent media law provisions on GBV, on guidelines and codes of conduct for media representatives. The presentation was followed by the demonstration of the PSA “Life betrayed” produced within the frame of the GBV project in Azerbaijan. The workshop participants also had a chance to discuss these issues during the questions and answers sessions held upon the completion of the presentation.