On 21 December 2021, the last of series of webinars on specific articles of the Istanbul Convention took place in Azerbaijan.

The aim of these webinars is to explain the content of the Convention in order to promote discussion on the potential accession of Azerbaijan to this international treaty. The fourth and last webinar was dedicated to Article 52 of the Istanbul Convention on emergency barring orders in situations of domestic violence. During the webinar, an international expert on violence against women and domestic violence introduced Article 52 and explained the differences between emergency barring orders and protection orders. She highlighted the principle of due diligence and the State’s duty to protect victims and explained how emergency barring orders can be used to help increase the safety of victims, as well as the challenges they pose.

Several examples of good practice followed, including from Sweden and Austria. The ensuing Questions and Answers session was very animated and included best practices on implementing this measure in the Council of Europe member states, and steps to address obligations under Article 52.

Translations into Azerbaijani of publications on violence against women and domestic violence, including the study on Article 52 - emergency barring orders, can be found here.

This activity took place under the project ‘Raising awareness of the Istanbul Convention and other gender equality standards in Azerbaijan’ implemented within the second phase of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme on Partnership for Good Governance (PGGII) in the Eastern Partnership countries. Among other objectives, the joint project seeks to support the Azerbaijani authorities to sign the Istanbul Convention.