A/HRC/43/44/Add.1 Armenia from the Kura and Araks rivers. 43 The ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has had an enormously negative impact on water resources, creating serious water problems in downstream Azerbaijan. During her visit to Ganja, the Special Rapporteur witnessed major rivers that were completely dry. That is an alarming issue and the solution would be to re-establish bilateral peace talks and establish an agreement between riparian countries to avoid such problems. 94. Access to water, especially drinking water, is a human right for all. The human right to water is indispensable for living a life in human dignity. It is also a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights, especially the right to food. 44 The Government of Azerbaijan must guarantee, promote and protect access to clean and potable water. VIII. Access to adequate food for vulnerable groups A. Women 95. The role of women in the food and agricultural sectors, including as regards nutrition, is significant. International standards are supporting women’s empowerment and Governments are being encouraged to carry out legal and policy reforms. In Azerbaijan, women enjoy the same legal rights as men, however societal discrimination remains a problem. According to the Constitution, men and women are equal before the law (article 25); nevertheless, substantive equality or positive discrimination and active incentives to promote women are still not institutionalized. New institutions have been established but they are still too new for any impact or change to be seen. 96. The Law on State Guarantees of Equal Rights for Women and Men, adopted on 10 October 2006, 45 aims to eliminate all forms of gender-based discrimination and ensure gender equality in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres. All human rights are guaranteed to both women and men. 97. Despite the existence of a gender equality act and gender equality in law in general, there are still strong prevailing gender role stereotypes and cultural norms in Azerbaijani family and society that have a negative impact on women’s economic, social and cultural rights. 98. The role of women in agriculture is undeniable and extremely important at all levels. Close to 80 per cent of the activities in the agriculture sector are carried out by women. Despite that, their role in the agricultural sector remains invisible. 99. That is more prevalent if a woman is the head of the household. Nationally, close to 25 per cent of women head their households.46 Single mothers and widows are one of the most vulnerable groups. The Government provides a very limited subsidy to support single mothers and widows, which is barely enough to live off. That limited protection needs to be institutionalized. 100. Women in agriculture generally work for the family and often do not have independent earnings, access to credit or social security. In particular, households headed by single women need social protection and additional help to keep up with other families. 101. In the rural areas, the Special Rapporteur was confronted by issues around traditional attitudes towards women. Women still believe that agriculture and land management are not women’s issues and therefore they cannot deal with them. In Guba, the 43 44 45 46 16 Ibid., p. 13. See Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 15 (2002) on the right to water. Law on State Guarantees of Equal Rights for Women and Men, adopted on 10 October 2006, article 21. Available at: www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/--ilo_aids/documents/legaldocument/wcms_127414.pdf. FAO, The role of women in Agriculture, 2011, p. 46, available at: www.fao.org/3/am307e/am307e00.pdf.