A/HRC/11/20 Page 5 17. In Azerbaijan, women were granted the right to vote and to be elected in 1918 and women are now represented in legislative, executive, judiciary bodies and administrative services and actively participate in the social and political life. 18. The State Committee on the Family, Women and Children (SCFWC), established in 2006, is the main executive body responsible for applying State policy in this field. Azerbaijan adopted various measures to counter violence against women, including a new extended definition of sexual discrimination included in the 2006 Law on Gender Equality and the 2007 comprehensive programme to combat domestic violence. The Parliament currently discusses a draft law on the prevention of domestic violence, and joint project on combating violence against women in the twenty-first century, is mandated to further tackle this phenomenon through awareness raising campaigns and the elaboration of a strategy to assist victims. 19. Azerbaijan indicated that 2009 was declared the Year of Children by a presidential decree. In 2008, Azerbaijan signed the European Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse in addition to the adoption of a range of legal documents such as the Law on the Rights of the Child. There is also a 2006-2015 State programme for the placement of children living in State institutions, in families (deinstitutionalization) and alternative care. At present, there are 4,545 schools in line with modern requirements and seven specialized schools for children with disabilities. The delegation indicated that, in 2006, Azerbaijan and UNICEF signed an action plan for juvenile justice reform. 20. Azerbaijan informed of legislative and social measures to counter human trafficking, including the Suppression of Human Trafficking Act and the national action plan to counter human trafficking. A mechanism for social rehabilitation of victims was elaborated, which provides financial support for them. There were instances of prosecution and sentencing of persons involved in human trafficking and an awareness-raising campaign is conducted in schools on this issue. 21. On corruption, Azerbaijan abides by international instruments, takes the necessary implementory measures to combat corruption and hoped that the Parliament will adopt in 2009 the bill on combating the laundering of money and other proceeds from crime and the financing of terrorism. 22. The delegation asserted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains the hardest problem for Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions are occupied by the Republic of Armenia and more than one million Azeris became refugees and IDPs as a result of ethnic cleansing policy carried out by Armenia. As a consequence, Azerbaijan is not able to entirely implement its international human rights obligations in these territories, and made special reservations or declarations when acceding to a number of international human rights instruments. Azerbaijan fully acknowledged its responsibility regarding refugees’ and IDPs’ protection and undertook efforts, notably for their temporary integration into society, taking into account the exercise of their right to safely return to native lands. The State programme to improve the living conditions and increase employment of refugees and IDPs was adopted in 2004. Over the last seven years, 61 settlements have been created for refugees and IDPs, the last tent camps were shut down in December 2007 and an important budget was allocated to this end. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees highly appreciated these efforts.