BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 18. A seminar on promoting the use of inclusive language in the media was held in Baku, organized by the UN Office in Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population (MLSP), Trend reports.
The seminar was attended by representatives of the media, organizations of persons with disabilities, the UN Communications Group, and the UN Working Group on Inclusion, as well as experts on the rights of persons with disabilities.
The seminar aimed to raise awareness among media professionals about inclusive language and responsible coverage of disability issues, strengthen cooperation between media organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and the UN system, provide media representatives with practical tools and examples of non-discriminatory and empowering language, create a platform for dialogue between persons with disabilities and the media, and encourage the coverage of stories that reflect dignity, equality, and identity.
Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Rashad Mustafayev and UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva addressed the seminar.
Rashad Mustafayev noted that five packages of social reforms, implemented consecutively over six years, have covered 4 million citizens.
According to him, the medical and social rehabilitation of people with disabilities and their full integration into society are one of the priorities of Azerbaijan's social policy:
"As a result of the reforms, a total of 7.6 billion manat ($4.4 billion) in additional funds have been allocated to finance social payments. Pensions, benefits, and scholarships for people with disabilities have been significantly increased. At the same time, Azerbaijan has taken important steps to develop a modern rehabilitation system, expanded the network of rehabilitation centers, and introduced new methods based on advanced international experience. These measures contribute to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and their active participation in public life."
The UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Vladanka Andreeva, stated that Azerbaijan has made significant progress in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
According to her, the Social Development Summit held in Doha a few weeks ago also emphasized that social progress is only possible with the full involvement of all segments of society:
"This year, the UN Secretary-General presented his sixth system-wide report on disability. This report reflects the work we have done together over the past six years, highlights the progress made in 2019-2024, and at the same time sets higher goals for future action.
Azerbaijan has achieved significant progress under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Particular attention is paid to Sustainable Development Goals 10 and 16. The progress achieved is a source of pride, but there are still certain difficulties in covering and presenting disability issues through the media.
The workshop included an interactive stage called “Selected Words” and an interactive exercise on the use of language in covering and analyzing disability issues in the Azerbaijani media.
The seminar was followed by a presentation on “Understanding Disability and Inclusion: Key Concepts and Terminology” by Aydin Khalilov, representative of the Independent Living Center for Persons with Disabilities, and Güler Fatali, coordinator of the UN Working Group on Inclusion.