A proposal has been put forward in the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) to grant new powers to the Mediation Council regarding divorce proceedings in Azerbaijan.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Fazil Mustafa, Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee for Public Associations and Religious Organizations, made this statement during today's parliamentary session. The proposal was raised during the discussion of the annual report of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the protection of human rights in the country in 2025.
Mustafa noted that the Council should provide a formal opinion on the intentions of men and women seeking a divorce. "The opinion provided by the mediation service could be taken into account during the determination of alimony. Currently, the divorce situation in Azerbaijan is concerning. According to statistics, approximately 56 out of every 100 couples who marry in the country divorce within one year," he stated. He further explained that while men are often blamed in divorce cases, there are claims that some divorces are motivated by alimony interests. He suggested that if mediation provides a formal assessment of the reasons for separation, it could significantly impact both alimony assignments and the overall divorce rate.
The Mediation Council in Azerbaijan was established to provide an alternative mechanism for dispute resolution, aimed at reducing the workload of the judicial system and fostering amicable settlements. Under current legislation, mediation is mandatory for certain categories of disputes, including family and labor issues, before they can be heard in court. This new proposal seeks to deepen the Council's involvement by integrating its findings directly into the judicial decision-making process regarding financial settlements and family welfare.
