A 16-year-old girl in Azerbaijan has given birth, according to Mehriban Zeynalova, head of the women’s aid organization Clean World.
Speaking to Qafqazinfo, Zeynalova said the teenager had been under the care of the NGO throughout her pregnancy and is now living in a shelter with her newborn child.
“We supported her during the pregnancy. The girl’s parents have passed away. The location of the baby’s father is unknown. According to the girl, he is 27 years old,” Zeynalova said.
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The case has sparked renewed public concern over sexual abuse and protection of minors in Azerbaijan.
Under Article 152 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, sexual intercourse with a person under 16 is classified as statutory rape, punishable by up to 8 years in prison, depending on circumstances. The law also provides for harsher penalties if the act results in pregnancy or is committed by a person significantly older than the minor.
Human rights advocates have urged the authorities to investigate the incident and ensure accountability, while also emphasizing the need for stronger preventive mechanisms and psychological support for vulnerable minors.
Clean World has long campaigned against early marriage and gender-based violence, operating shelters and rehabilitation programs for women and girls across the country.
