International Day of Charity

5 September — International Day of Charity was established on 17 December 2012 at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly.  It was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (1979). The world-famous missionary and Catholic nun Mother Teresa was involved in charity work in various countries for 50 years.
    
International Day of Charity is celebrated in UN member states. Its celebration was initiated by the Hungarian government and took place for the first time in 2013. The main purpose of this day is to draw public attention to the activities of charitable organisations and individuals in eradicating poverty and acute humanitarian crises, and to encourage people and public organisations to engage in charitable activities. Another key focus is to promote dialogue, mutual understanding and kindness between people of different religions and cultures.
     
Charity is not only about helping the disadvantaged, sick and homeless, but also about helping to restore historical monuments, churches, mosques, build roads and wells, equip educational and medical institutions, etc. To this end, various charitable societies operate in UN member states. Their activities are mainly financed by donations and grants. In addition, some charitable organisations are supported by governments and international organisations. Part of their expenses are covered by funds established in their names. In addition to these organisations, which provide both material and moral assistance to people, there are also charitable organisations engaged in nature and environmental protection.
    
As in many countries, charity is widespread in Azerbaijan. The history of this tradition in Azerbaijan dates back to pre-Islamic times. After the adoption of Islam, it developed further and reached its current level. The first charitable society in Azerbaijan was the Baku Muslim Charitable Society, established in 1905 on the initiative of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev and Hasan Bek Zardabi. Initially operating only in Baku and its surroundings, during World War I, this society changed its charter, expanded its scope of activity, and began to provide assistance to refugees from the Caucasian front, orphans, and captured Turkish soldiers.
    
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were a number of charitable societies operating in Azerbaijan. During this period, there were societies such as the ‘Ganja Muslim Charitable Society,’ ‘Seda,’ ‘Saadat,’ and ‘Nijat.’ In 1908, the Baku Roman Catholic Society and the Baku Greek Charitable Society were active, and in 1914, the Society for the Charity of Children's Homes was established. In total, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, there were more than thirty charitable and educational societies operating in Baku alone.
     
The first women's charitable society in Azerbaijan was established in 1908 on the initiative of the wife of Hasan Bek Zardabi, Hanifa Khanum Melikova. Educated Muslim women founded this society not only to help the poor, but also to raise the cultural level of women and develop their interest in scientific knowledge.
           
An important stage in charitable activity in Azerbaijan occurred in the last quarter of the 20th century. As a result of the war and genocide perpetrated by Armenians against Azerbaijanis, our people were forced to accept about 1 million refugees and internally displaced persons. This situation necessitated the creation of charitable societies in the country. In 1988–1992, in order to improve the socio-economic situation of refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, the following were established: the Office for Work with Internally Displaced Persons without Permanent Employment and Residence, the Committee on Interethnic Relations, the State Committee on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, and in 1995, the Republican Commission on International Technical and Humanitarian Assistance.
        
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, currently headed by Azerbaijan's First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, is one of the leading foundations successfully implementing humanitarian and charitable projects as part of its multifaceted activities. On the initiative of the Foundation, the Yuhary Govhar Agha, Asaghy Govhar Agha and Saatly mosques in the city of Shusha, as well as mosques in the cities of Aghdam and Zangelan, were completely renovated in the liberated territories. In addition, on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, new mosques were built in the cities of Dashalty, Hadrut and Shusha.
     
Thanks to the contribution of this foundation, the traditions of charity and humanism are successfully continued by many entrepreneurs, public figures and non-governmental organisations operating in Azerbaijan today. Among them are the Kur-Khazar Charitable Society, the Azerbaijan Women of Mercy Public Association, the Health Public Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Buta Humanitarian Children's Fund, the Support for the Disabled Charitable Public Association, the Gulistan Public Association for Assistance to Women and Orphans, the Shamsi Asadullayev Charitable Public Association, and many other centers, societies, and associations that provide assistance and support to veterans of the Patriotic War.
    
Today, states, international organisations and non-governmental organisations face important challenges in the fight against poverty. These challenges include not only charity, but also ensuring political justice, protecting human rights, combating racism, national and religious discrimination, and protecting nature.
   
The Azerbaijani state and people, who possess high material and moral values, have always provided assistance to countries suffering from war, famine or natural disasters, and are known throughout the world for their human values, such as compassion and mercy.

Recommended literature:

1. Vəlizadə, Tural. Azərbaycanda xeyriyyəçilik ənənələri/T. Vəlizadə ; Mənəvi Dəyərlərin Təbliği Fondu. - Bakı: TUNA, 2018. - 73 s.
2. Cavadov, Cavid Qəmərşah oğlu. XİX əsrin sonu və XX əsrdə Azərbaycanda xeyriyyəçilik hərəkatı: tarix e. n. a. dər. al. üçün təq. ol. dis-nın avtoreferatı: 07.00.02 /C. Q. Cavadov ; Azərb. Resp. Prezidenti Yanında Dövlət İdarəçilik Akademiyası. - Bakı: 2000. - 26 s.
3. Süleymanov, Manaf Fərəc oğlu. Azərbaycan milyonçuları /M. Süleymanov ; red. C. Cavanşir ; naşir M. Xan ; dizayn F. İlham. - Bakı: Mücrü, 2021. - 144 s.