On 3 October 2018 the Council of Europe Project “Gender Equality and Media Freedom in Azerbaijan” organised a round table on “Gender equality and media” to discuss the Code of Professional Ethics for Azerbaijani journalists revised from a gender equality perspective within the Project in Baku. The Project established a working group consisting of local and international experts to review and update the Code of Professional Ethics in March 2018. The working group reviewed the Code of ethics from a gender equality perspective and revised it in accordance with the CoE standards on gender equality and media. The draft amendment introduces the new Principle named “Promotion and protection of the principle of non-discrimination and gender equality” into the Code of Professional Ethics for Journalists .
Ambassador Zoltan Hernyes, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Baku, Mr Aflatun Amashov, Head of Azerbaijani Press Council and Member of Milli Majlis, Mr Aydin Safikhanli, Head of Ombudsman Office addressed the audience at the opening session and emphasized the importance of making amendment to the Code of Professional Ethics from a gender equality perspective. Mr Zoltan Hernyes said that “this is the very first project specifically dedicated to the issue of gender equality and media freedom and ever implemented in a member state of the Council of Europe. Therefore, if its implementation is successful, it might serve as a model for other CoE member states as well.” Mr Aflatun Amashov highlighted the importance of the amendment and mentioned that the Board of the Press Council will consider the amendment to the Code of Ethics for approval in one of its next meetings. Mr Aydin Safikhanli emphasized the significance of the awareness-raising activities for journalists organized in the regions within the Project and said that it is important to continue to raise awareness on the CoE standards on gender equality and media as well as the revised Code of Ethics among journalists in the regions.
Mr Mushfig Alasgarli, Deputy Head of Azerbaijani Press Council made a presentation on the proposed draft amendment on behalf of the working group. Dr Jelena Surculija Milojevic, the Council of Europe expert joined the round table though Skype and made a presentation on the Council of Europe standards on gender equality and media and the revised version of the Code of ethics for Azerbaijani journalists. She indicated that “it should not be forgotten that after the amendment to the Code of Ethics is adopted, the new rules should be available to wider public, to media, to NGO sector, to international organizations, regulatory authorities and politicians, in order to ensure its better implementation.”
About 35 representatives of state authorities, members of the Board of the Press Council, experts on media and gender, as well as journalists , representatives of civil society and academia took an active part in the round table. The participants discussed the draft revised version, highlighted its importance as the first experience in the related field and made their comments and suggestions. After considering all relevant suggestions and finalizing the draft revised version, the Project will submit the amended Code of Professional Ethics for journalists from a gender equality perspective to the Azerbaijani Press Council for approval.
