Baku, October 19, 2026 – The Europe Today: Azerbaijan was represented at the World Women Parliamentarians’ Forum, held under the auspices of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, bringing together legislators and representatives of international organisations to discuss strengthening women’s participation in decision-making.
Held under the theme “From Representation to Influence in the Decision-Making Process,” the forum brought together nearly 150 parliamentarians from 32 countries, alongside representatives of nine parliamentary networks and international organisations.
Parvana Valiyeva, a member of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis, participated in the forum and addressed a panel session focusing on the legal framework, legislative changes and reforms aimed at ensuring gender equality.
On the second day, Valiyeva also delivered a presentation during a panel discussion examining the role of citizens, civil society and the private sector in empowering women across different spheres of life.
She highlighted the activities of civil society institutions in Azerbaijan, particularly the contribution of non-governmental organisations to protecting women’s rights and expanding opportunities for women.
Valiyeva also outlined significant reforms aimed at supporting women’s entrepreneurship and increasing women’s participation in the national economy.
As part of her visit, the Azerbaijani parliamentarian met with Songobai Zamira, head of the Mongolia–Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary working group, and other Mongolian counterparts to discuss parliamentary engagement and opportunities for cooperation.
The forum served as an important platform for promoting women’s sustained participation in economic, social, public and political life, strengthening their influence in decision-making and facilitating the exchange of experiences and best practices among participating countries.
Discussions also underscored the need to expand women’s representation beyond traditional sectors and ensure their participation in emerging and strategically important fields, including artificial intelligence, digital transformation and efforts to counter hybrid threats.
The event highlighted the importance of legislative reforms, institutional cooperation and stronger partnerships among governments, civil society and the private sector in advancing gender equality and empowering women to contribute more effectively to national development and international affairs.
