Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

On December 3, a roundtable discussion on “The Gender Dimension in National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s Public Views” was held at the Main Building of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

Opening the event, President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbayli, noted that the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev is commemorated with deep respect both in our country and beyond its borders. He spoke about the invaluable historical services of the National Leader in the comprehensive development of our independent state. He emphasized that Heydar Aliyev, one of the world’s rare personalities, has been eternally engraved in the hearts of the people and in the memory of history for his exceptional contributions.

“Heydar Aliyev played a crucial role in strengthening and promoting Azerbaijan as an independent state and in turning our country into one of the influential nations on the global stage,” said Academician Isa Habibbayli. He added that the path the National Leader followed, the experience he gained, the struggles he undertook, the results he achieved, and the milestones he reached serve as a model and example for the nations of the world. He noted that Heydar Aliyev presented lessons of independent statehood to the international community. The great leader’s statehood doctrine is a major political doctrine that has brought our country to where it stands today—everlasting and long-lasting.

Calling National Leader Heydar Aliyev a historical figure who ensured the permanence of our independence and strengthened our statehood, the ANAS President spoke about his struggle for a free and democratic Azerbaijan and the salvation mission he undertook to rescue the republic from severe tragedies, political, socio-economic, and moral-psychological crises. He stressed that the National Leader skillfully guided the Azerbaijani state through the difficult tests of time, relied only on his people in the most complex situations, and demonstrated great leadership at decisive moments, confidently leading the country forward. Throughout all periods of his leadership, Heydar Aliyev served the people with dignity, dedicating all his strength and talent to improving their welfare and realizing the ideals of national statehood. The ANAS President stated that Heydar Aliyev’s ideas and statehood course continue to live today, contributing to the development and consolidation of the independent Azerbaijani state, and setting an example to the world in what it means to be a truly independent nation.

“The unity between Heydar Aliyev and the people has helped our statehood pass through difficult trials and ensured solid foundations for our independence. The great leader made Azerbaijan’s independence eternal and irreversible. Today, as we live in a fully independent, dynamically developing, and globally respected country, we owe an eternal debt to the great son of our nation, Heydar Aliyev,” Academician Isa Habibbayli added.

The ANAS President also stated that Heydar Aliyev’s tireless efforts toward protecting and strengthening our independence are today being successfully continued and further developed by his worthy successor, President Ilham Aliyev, in line with modern challenges. He noted that as a result of the successful foreign policy set forth by Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan has secured a respectable place in the world and is recognized as a reliable partner in the international arena.

He recalled that in 2020, under the leadership of the Victorious Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, the heroic Azerbaijani Army liberated our lands from occupation and restored our territorial integrity. He underlined that the unity of our people around the Commander-in-Chief as a “Iron Fist” ended the 30-year occupation and fully restored Azerbaijan’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity. This historic Victory also affirmed the fulfillment of Heydar Aliyev’s greatest dream for Azerbaijan.

Academician Isa Habibbayli emphasized that today the State Flag of Azerbaijan proudly flies across all our territories. He noted that the Great Return movement is being successfully implemented, and Azerbaijan is developing in all directions, recognized worldwide as a state with a model of exemplary development and national progress.

The ANAS President stressed the importance of conveying the rich life and political legacy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to new generations. He described Heydar Aliyev as one of the most influential leaders of the Soviet Union and Ilham Aliyev as one of the powerful leaders of the modern world.

He also noted that during both periods of Heydar Aliyev’s leadership of the country, the development of ANAS was kept in focus. Academician Isa Habibbayli highlighted that the brightest moment of the Academy’s 80th anniversary celebrations was President Ilham Aliyev’s participation in the ANAS assembly on November 3, 2025, and his profound speech. He stated that the President’s participation and historic address at the anniversary meeting reflect state-level attention to Azerbaijani scholars, science, intellectuals, and the National Academy of Sciences.

A video dedicated to National Leader Heydar Aliyev was then presented.

At the event, Vice-President of ANAS, Academician Irada Huseynova, spoke about Heydar Aliyev’s life and statehood legacy, noting that it is not only associated with building an independent, sovereign, and democratic Republic of Azerbaijan but also closely tied to the formation of legal, social, and gender equality principles in the country. She emphasized that the foundations of modern statehood—national independence, sovereignty, democratic constitutional order, and rights—gained real meaning thanks to the National Leader’s strategic vision and determination.

“One of the important directions of the National Leader’s state policy was enhancing the role of women in society and state governance, science, and education,” said Academician Irada Huseynova. She noted that Heydar Aliyev considered women’s rights one of the key components of democratic state-building. This approach was evident both during his leadership in the Soviet era and throughout the years of independence. The Decree “On Increasing the Role of Women in Azerbaijan” issued by the National Leader, as well as the “National Action Plan on Women’s Issues” approved in 2000, integrated gender equality into the core of the country’s legal and social development.

According to her, as the first democratic republic in the East, Azerbaijan—known for enshrining constitutional rights related to gender equality and granting women the right to vote and to be elected for the first time—can be compared with developed nations in terms of women’s participation in science.

Academician Irada Huseynova added that today Azerbaijani women actively contribute to science, education, state governance, and various sectors of the economy, significantly supporting the country’s intellectual and innovative development. President Ilham Aliyev, as the worthy successor of the National Leader’s political and socio-economic legacy, has strengthened the strategic approach to gender policy in the modern era and created new opportunities for expanding women’s socio-political engagement. State programs and institutional reforms carried out in this direction further elevate women’s participation in contemporary Azerbaijani society.

“The high regard and trust the National Leader had for Azerbaijani women, as well as his efforts to strengthen their rights and social status, continue to yield tangible results in the scientific, social, and political life of our country today. At ANAS, we consider ensuring the continuity of this policy, further promoting the active participation of women in science, and supporting their leadership potential as key priorities,” the Vice-President concluded.

Later, Chair of the ANAS Women’s Council, Professor Rana Mirzazade, stated that successful gender policy is currently being implemented in Azerbaijan. She noted that gender-related issues have always been among the National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s priorities, and throughout all periods of his leadership, conditions were created for equal participation of men and women in politics and public administration. She stressed that the establishment of the State Committee for Women’s Issues by the great leader’s Decree in 1998 and the signing of the Decree on state women’s policy in 2000 illustrate the special attention given to this field.

The event also featured presentations by ANAS Vice-President, Academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, titled “Heydar Aliyev Is the Founder of the Modern Azerbaijani State”; Deputy Chair of the Scientific Council of the Department of Social Sciences, Academician Nargiz Akhundova, titled “Heydar Aliyev Is the Great Leader of Azerbaijani History”; Head of Department at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Doctor of Philosophy, Associate Professor Khatira Guliyeva, titled “The 20th Century Genius of Azerbaijan, National Leader Heydar Aliyev”; Member of the YAP Veterans Council and the ANAS Women’s Council Board, public healthcare specialist Zarifa Guliyeva, titled “Heydar Aliyev in Eternal Memory”; and Researcher at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Gulshan Allahverdiyeva, titled “A Poem Dedicated to Heydar Aliyev’s Memory.”

Translation by Gulhane Aghayeva, Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information, Presidium of ANAS.

© All rights reserved. Reference to www.science.gov.az is required when using materials from this site.