On June 02, 2023, an international conference on “Gender equality as part of international human rights law”  jointly initiated by the Azerbaijani Bar Association (ABA) and the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan and dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the first female lawyer of the Turkic countries, Mrs Sureyya Aghaoghlu, was held at Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard.

Making an opening speech at the event, the Chairman of the ABA, Mr. Anar Baghirov, greeted everyone, emphasised the importance of gender equality and noted that Azerbaijan, our first Republic and legal successor, was the first state in the East to grant women the right to vote in 1918.

Briefing about Mrs. Sureyya Aghaoghlu, the first female lawyer in the Turkic world, Mr. Anar Baghirov noted that Mrs. Aghaoghlu was born in 1903 in the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of the Turkic world, in the family of the prominent public and political figure of Azerbaijan and Türkiye Mr. Ahmed Aghaoghlu. She graduated from Istanbul Girls High School in 1920. In 1921, she applied to the University to study law, was admitted to the Istanbul School of Law, and thus played a role in opening the door of the School of Law to female students. After graduation, she was elected the second president of the International Society of Women Lawyers and was engaged in law until the end of her life.

Mr. Anar Baghirov also noted that the number of female lawyers in the lawyers' community has significantly increased due to the progressive reforms carried out in our country since 2018. The Women Lawyers Alliance was established by the relevant decision of the ABA's Board to network with female lawyers, increase the interest of female lawyers in advocacy, and fight gender-based difficulties women lawyers face in their activities.

After that, a film dedicated to the life and creativity of Mrs. Sureyya Aghaoghlu was shown.

The Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Alim Ernazarov, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ms. Bahar Muradova, Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Chingiz Asgarov, the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Heydar Mammadov, Head of Council of Europe Office in Azerbaijan, Mr. Petr Sich were present at the event and made opening speeches on gender equality.

At the International Conference held in a hybrid format and consisting of 3 sessions, delegations led by the President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, Mr. Erinch Saghkan, the Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Alim Ernazarov, the Vice-President of European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL), the Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association, Mr. David Asatiani, the President of the Bar Association of Serbia, Mrs. Jasmina Milutinovic, President of the Supreme Bar Council of Bulgaria, Mr. Ivaylo Dermendjiev, the Chairman of the Lawyers' Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Bilim Raiymkulov, the Vice-President of the Bar Association of India, Ms. Rachana Srivastava, and Senior Counsel of the Bar of Ireland, Mr. David Conlan Smyth. The delegations made speeches on various topics related to gender equality, informed the Conference participants about the existing problems and their solutions, and a broad exchange of ideas was held.

At the same time, within the framework of the event, for the first time, the Chairman of the ABA, Mr. Anar Baghirov, was awarded the "Friendship" medal by the Chairman of the Lawyers' Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Bilim Raiymkulov.

It should also be noted that the representatives of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL), the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA), which are among the most influential organizations in the world in the field of advocacy, as well as human rights defenders, Ms. Novella Jafaroglu and Ms. Saida Gocamanli, Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Jeyhun Garajayev, the Chairman of the Board of the Mediation Council, Mr. Nadir Adilov, the Deputy Executive Director of Center for Legal Examination and Legislative Initiatives, Ms. Aygun Bashirova, Deputy Chairman of the Institute of Law and Human Rights, Ms. Natavan Rustamova, Chair of The Committee for Family and Women's and Children's Affairs of The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ms. Hijran Huseynova, Winner of the "Yüksəliş" competition, Mr. Ramil Abulov, a number of local and international government and non-government organizations, and more than 200 lawyers participated.

A Joint Statement “on Ensuring Gender equality” was adopted by the conference participants at the event.

As a continuation of the conference, a social program reflecting the history and sightseeing of Baku was organised for foreign guests.