Social integration and cohesion are among the key issues in the Republic of Azerbaijan’s current cultural policy. A generally accepted approach is that when developing policies or programs by national, regional, or local authorities, the cultural factor is also considered for social integration and population cohesion. In particular, in the action plans of state programs to support specific groups (such as refugees, disadvantaged groups, the elderly, and the unemployed), there is always a place for many measures to involve them in a full-fledged cultural life.
A similar approach was reflected and realised in such government programs as the State Program on Solving the Problems of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (No.895 of September 17, 1998), the “State Program on Improving Living Conditions and Increasing Employment of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons” (No.298 of July 1, 2004), the State Program on Strengthening Social Protection of Elderly Citizens (No.1413 of April 17, 2006), the National Action Plan for the Protection of Human Rights in the Republic of Azerbaijan (No.1880 of December 28, 2006), the “National Action Program to increase the effectiveness of the protection of human rights and freedoms in the Republic of Azerbaijan” (No.1938 of December 27, 2011) and in many other state programs and projects.
Activities in the field of culture are also reflected in state programs dedicated to preventing possible negative factors and dangerous phenomena. For instance, among the activities prescribed by the State Program on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors and Drug Addiction for 2019-2024 (No.1334 of July 22, 2019), there are “Organization of intellectual competitions against illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors to form an anti-drug worldview of pupils and students”; “Theatrical performances, feature, documentary and animated films on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the harms of drug addiction”; “Activities serving to organise leisure time of teenagers and youth in cities and regions”.
The National Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2020-2024 (No. 2173 of July 22, 2020) envisages “Taking appropriate measures in the administrative, educational, social, cultural and other areas to create an environment of public intolerance in society regarding the circumstances that create conditions for the commission of human trafficking and forced labour crimes; involving civil society institutions and media entities in this work”; “Strengthening advocacy and awareness-raising in the fight against human trafficking, making various social advertisements, videos, and short films; preparing and showing programs, preparing multiple educational materials, posting on Internet information resources and promoting their use”; “Applying the practice of evaluating the results of all awareness-raising activities and training on human trafficking by organisers and participants”.
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