Azerbaijan continues to grapple with the problem of domestic violence – an issue widely discussed across the world.
But while public debate in the country often centers on violence against women, other forms of abuse inside the household rarely receive the same attention, distorting the overall picture and complicating efforts to address the problem.
According to sociologist Uzeyir Shafiyev, this one-sided focus risks weakening family stability and obscuring the broader nature of violence inside the home.
“Does violence against men not exist? Do parents not abuse children? Why are these facts ignored while we concentrate exclusively on women?” he said, arguing that the imbalance in public debate creates unnecessary tension between men and women.
Shafiyev criticized what he described as external influence and NGO-driven narratives that, in his view, seek to “undermine family foundations” in Azerbaijan.
A broader spectrum of violence
The sociologist argues that the public perception of domestic abuse is shaped by the fact that women are more likely to seek help and report cases, while men often remain silent due to social norms.
He believes this contributes to a false impression that violence is directed only or primarily against women.
“Women turn to the authorities more often. Men, because of mentality, prefer not to speak up,” Shafiyev said.
The result, he argues, is incomplete statistics and misguided public messaging.
Growing concerns over social media influence
Shafiyev expressed alarm over increasingly polarizing rhetoric on social networks, saying it fuels conflict between genders and damages the concept of a stable household – a cornerstone of social life in Azerbaijan.
He emphasized that the country has “many exemplary families” built on mutual respect, which he believes deserve recognition and support rather than being overshadowed by negative narratives.
What solutions are being proposed?
To address the issue, the sociologist calls for targeted state intervention, including:
registration and monitoring of conflict-prone families
timely social and psychological assistance
preventing family breakdown rather than reacting after violence occurs
licensing and certification of social workers and psychologists
He also warned about an “erroneous interpretation” of gender equality in the media, which, he believes, sometimes portrays men and women as adversaries.
Official stance and parliamentary concern
His comments came in response to remarks by Hidjran Huseynova, chair of the parliamentary committee on family, women and children, who recently expressed concern over rising violence against women and early marriages.
“Despite the measures taken, the problem persists. Cases of abuse and forced early marriage still exist. Domestic violence threatens not only the family but society as a whole,” Huseynova said during a plenary session of the Milli Majlis.
Azerbaijan’s law on domestic violence defines the phenomenon broadly – as physical, psychological, economic, sexual, or emotional abuse between people linked by family ties or shared residence. In practice, however, public debate often treats domestic violence as a single-direction problem.
Shafiyev insists Azerbaijan has made “significant progress” in gender equality and that the national model could serve as an example.
