Azerbaijan's Early Childbearing Crisis: 1,279 Births to Girls Aged 15-17 in 2024
Alarming trends have emerged in Azerbaijan, with 1,279 live births to girls aged 15-17 in 2024. These births highlight a pattern of early adolescent childbearing, often linked to marriage or sexual relations with older men. The law in Azerbaijan, distinguishing between 'rape' and 'consensual' relations with minors, has led to lenient sentences for offenders.
In Yevlakh, a 19-year-old man 'married' a 13-year-old girl in 2025, living with her after serving a short prison term. Similarly, in Aghjabadi, a 13-year-old girl was 'married' to a 23-year-old man and gave birth, with the man receiving a lenient sentence. In Dashkasan, a 20-year-old man kidnapped a 15-year-old girl and received a suspended sentence.
These cases are not isolated incidents. Throughout 2024 and 2025, Azerbaijani media reported multiple cases of 13- and 14-year-old girls giving birth or being married off. Among the 1,279 births, 81 were second children, 9 were third, 2 were fourth, and 1 was the fifth child, indicating continuous childbearing starting in early adolescence. The government's failure to protect these girls is evident in the lack of prevention, social work, and support for victims. In Sabirabad, a 21-year-old man strangled his 16-year-old 'wife' and threw her body into the River Kur.
The continuous childbearing among adolescent girls in Azerbaijan, coupled with the lenient sentences for offenders, raises serious concerns about the government's commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of these young girls. Independent reporting on these issues is crucial to bring about change and ensure the safety and future of these vulnerable individuals.
