Overview
Almost half of the population lives in poverty, i.e. below less than a dollar a day, with the percentage of children in poverty even higher (52%). Unofficial sources suggest that one-sixth of economically active citizens are unemployed. Infant and maternal mortality rates are the highest in Europe. With over 100 children dying before the age of five for every 1,000 live births, Azerbaijan has an Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) ranking of 46th in the world, putting it on a par with countries that have much lower GNI per capita. Poor nutrition is a major underlying cause of child mortality, with 10% of babies born underweight, 13% of children under five stunted, and 75% suffering from Vitamin A deficiency. Around 10% of children do not live in a family environment, every 10 children goes to an institutional care every year. Many still believe that children receive better care in an institution and this belief, combined with low household incomes and poor regulatory mechanisms, has resulted in increased child institutionalisation. As many as 15% of births go unregistered as a result of bureaucratic procedures and informal payments for registration. The emergence of “street children” is a relatively new phenomenon and stems from the sharp drop in the economic and social status of families. Available figures are flexible and seasonal. The latest information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs says that over 500 children were registered at police stations in 2003 for petty crimes, of whom 80% were not attending school. Nearly two-thirds of women and children experience some type of domestic violence, as one recent study reveals. The long-standing conflict with Armenia remains unresolved and the upheavals of 1988-1993 continue to cause suffering. There are nearly 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from Armenia and other countries, over half of them women and children. Refugee and displaced people have poverty levels that are 20% higher than the national average. Approximately 24 of Azerbaijan’s 65 regions are thought to be contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Of those killed by landmines or UXO to date, 13% have been children. The administration of juvenile justice in Azerbaijan is a major cause for concerns, in particular regarding the compatibility with articles 37,39 and 40 of the CRC, as we as the other relevant standards such as the Beijing Rules, the Riyadh Guidelines and the UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. All the partners that UNICEF has built a close collaboration recognised the high level of sensitivity of the on-going violation of rights of children in particularly difficult situation, and that a strong improvement needs to be achieved in the enforcement of a human rights approach when dealing with children and adolescences.
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