On December 4, 2014, the Social Policy Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the National Council of Youth Organizations of Azerbaijan jointly conducted a monitoring session on the Law on Combating Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Diseases. A public hearing was held as part of this initiative.
Participants:
The event was attended by:
- Bahar Muradova – Deputy Chairperson of the Milli Majlis
- Akhliman Amiraslanov, Rauf Aliyev, and Ilham Mammadov – Members of Parliament
- Aynur Sofiyeva – Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs
- Andro Shilakadze – UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan
- Esmira Almammadova – Director of the Republican AIDS Center
- Vugar Eyvazov – Director of "Saglam Ailə" Medical Centers
- Nigar Rustamli – Head of Public Relations at "Saglam Ailə" Medical Center
- Representatives of the Ministry of Health, National Council of Youth Organizations, civil society institutions, and NGOs
Key Discussions:
During the session, Nigar Rustamli, Head of Public Relations at "Saglam Ailə" Medical Center, emphasized the importance of promoting a culture of premarital medical examinations among young people. She shared data and statistics from initiatives that "Saglam Ailə" has been conducting since 2010 to raise awareness in this area.
It was highlighted that the current law had been developed at a high level, based on a two-year monitoring period conducted by ARGTMS, an umbrella organization uniting 113 public associations and organizations.
Key Proposal:
At the end of the discussions, it was proposed to lower the minimum age requirement for medical examinations from 18 to 16 years, due to legal restrictions on minors undergoing medical check-ups without parental or guardian involvement.
