Mehriban Zeynalova, Chairperson of the "Clean World" Women's Aid Public Union was the next guest lecturer of "Introduction to Gender", the subject taught by Professor Mehrangiz Najafizade, a teacher of the Department of Organization of Social Work of Azerbaijan University to the second-year students of the social-psychological service in Education. The guest was introduced to the students by head of the department, Doctor of Philosophy in Pedagogy Tunzale Verdiyeva. She said that Mehriban Zeynalova is a trainer and expert in the field of combating human trafficking, the author of several monographs and studies. At Azerbaijan University, the subject "Combating Human Trafficking" is taught based on the textbook authored by him.

Later, Mehriban Zeynalova informed the students about the activities of the "Clean World" Women's Aid Public Union and the shelter she leads, the nature of the problem of human trafficking and ways to prevent it. The guest noted that since 1999, she has been trying to attract more public attention to the the problem of human trafficking and keep it on the agenda. After the round table organized in the same year, the problem started to be discussed in the national press. The next similar event was organized in 2003 together with state institutions. The adoption of the National Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking approved by the order of President Ilham Aliyev in 2004 was a very serious step forward in this direction. So far, 4 such plans have been adopted.

Mehriban Zeynalova stated that she has been working independently in the field of combating human trafficking since 2003. She started receiving various applications and creating a safe environment for victims of human trafficking in 2002. She used her apartment as a shelter for many years.

Now they operate in a new rented office. The new office meets the most modern requirements.

The guest informed the students about the activities of the "Clean World" Women's and Children's Shelter, the reception of applications to the shelter and the services provided here. She said that the training of social work students in the shelter will greatly contribute to their practical training.

The meeting then continued in the discussion format. Mehriban Zeynalova answered numerous questions of the students who participated in the meeting.

It should be noted that Mehrangiz Najafizadeh, who teaches the subject "Introduction to Gender", is a professor at the University of Kansas, USA. Mehrangiz Najafizade joined the staff of Azerbaijan University for the spring semester of the 2021/2022 academic year within the Fullbright Program.

Public relations department
18.05.2022