ICADV Newsletter:  Summer 2002

From May 3 to May 11, 2002, I was given a great honor and was able to visit the country of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a former republic of the Soviet Union that gained its independence in 1992. It is located on the Caspian Sea, just north of Iran. My time was spent in the capital, Baku, which has a long history. As a developing country, its major producer is oil, which gives the country substantial income. While the country is rich, many of the people of Azerbaijan are poor. Even though the collapse of Communism has placed this country in transition, the people (at least those with whom I had conversations) enjoy their freedom and independence. There is, however, a world issue, domestic violence, which is prevalent in developed as well as in developing countries.

In Azerbaijan, I had the opportunity to present four one-day trainings on the issues of domestic violence. At the beginning of training, I told the 14 participants that my training surrounded an American model that is a combination of many theories and procedures. To be effective, they would have to adapt them to the issues in the Azeri culture. Some of the topics included in the training were: history of the domestic violence movement, administering a shelter, dynamics of domestic violence, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling for both children and adults, prevention and education, and case management. Naseem Ahmed, my co facilitator, covered the issues of domestic violence in a global context and, also, leadership skills. The topics were chosen by the association "Symmetry," a non-government organization (NGO) in Azerbaijan. There was substantial media coverage of the training in Baku on prime time television stations and newspapers, but it was even reported in the European network.

In Azerbaijan, domestic violence falls under the larger category of human rights, as opposed to the case in the United States where these issues are separate. The differences between men and women are more pronounced in Azerbaijan. For example, I wanted to buy some saffron from the bazaar and it was strongly suggested that I go with a man. Male children are seen to be of the utmost importance, and if a woman cannot bear them, it can bring hardships, even violence, to the relationships. For women in violent relationships, there is a sense of hopelessness involved, comparable to that felt in the United States. I will note, however, that a survivor has fewer options available to her due to non- existence of shelters or crisis centers in Azerbaijan. That leaves the survivor to rely on her family, which may not be understanding or helpful, again, similar to experiences in the U.S.

This leads us to the legal system and government of Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, there are no laws protecting survivors from domestic violence as there are in the United States. Although, regardless of the status of the relationship, penalties exist for those committing violent acts. In the training, we discussed ways to build coalitions and lobby government for change. The participants were creative in their suggestions for solutions to the legal blockades, but felt somewhat restricted by a government that is in transition. Some efforts in education have been met with resistance because the government believe the actions of a group of violent individuals reflect the actions, beliefs, and attitudes of all the Azerbaijan people. The ability to establish a shelter or crisis center is a large obstacle for the Azeri people because there are no funding sources to assist any NGO in establishing such an agency.

The training itself was a learning process for me. The most challenging aspect of the training was the ability of the translator to listen and interpret simultaneous conversations. The training elicited significant discussion on how the topics I presented would work for the people of Azerbaijan. The barriers that prevent women from leaving were very similar to those in the U.S., yet they held more importance in some categories such as economic dependence and mindset of the survivor. The participants defined mindset as the way in which a survivor restricts herself due to the belief that there are few options available to her. Another difference between Azerbaijan and the United States is that the U.S. program, at times, differentiates the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. The participants in Azerbaijan are choosing to institute a model that unites the two issues and focuses on commonalities of the survivors, rather than instituting separate agencies.

The participants were very energetic excited, and hopeful about establishing a crisis center and shelter, and those feelings resonated throughout the entire training and at the end of each training. Participants used personalized examples they have encountered to illustrate the need for a crisis center in Azerbaijan. Another significant component of discussion centered on logistics and the day-to-day workings of a shelter, as well as what the group wanted out of their crisis center.

"What Carbondale needs is a women's center!" This simple declaration, spoken on December 1, 1971, planted the seed for what has grown to be a thriving agency providing important services to all survivors of domestic and sexual violence. In celebrating our 30th year, we reflect on our history of serving the survivors of domestic and sexual violence and look to the future.

The Women's Center, Inc., one of the oldest women's shelter in the nation, was the vision of our Founding Mothers. In November 1972, the Center provided shelter to its first client, referred by a taxi driver when he realized that she had no place to go. Now, three decades later, the Center provides shelter to an average of twenty women and children each night and the vision of our Founding Mothers lives on. Today, the Women's Center, Inc., serves 1,200 people each year. These services include individual and group, short- and long-term counseling; medical and legal advocacy; assistance with filing Orders of Protection; children's therapy; transportation; information and referrals; a clothing closet; and food pantry. In addition, The Women's Center is committed to educating the southern Illinois community on issues pertaining to domestic and sexual violence.

The participants of the training "Victims of Violence Advocacy" are pioneers in Azerbaijan, and The Women's Center, Inc., will continue collaborating with "Symmetry" and its group members. Their excitement about establishing a crisis center, as well as their commitment to the issue of ending domestic violence in Azerbaijan, will be essential for their continued success. Naseem Ahmed summarized the project nicely by saying, "Independence and democracy are nothing without human rights," and that is just the thought process that this group in Azerbaijan has for dealing with the issue of domestic and sexual violence.