Eurovision song contest comes to Azerbaijan

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
In each country where the Eurovision Song Contest is held, local NGOs and international organizations are organizing public events and various activities prior to the song competition. From May 21 to 26, 2012, the Eurovision song contest will be organized in capital of Azerbaijan - Baku - and several NGOs and organizations are going to conduct public activities related to Eurovision. 
 
 
WV is one of the biggest international NGOs in Azerbaijan advocating for the rights of vulnerable children, with specific focus on children with disabilities and institutionalized children. WV’s advocacy initiative mostly includes legal reforms for establishing a favourable legal environment, and raising public awareness to improve social environment for the smoother integration of children with special needs into life and society. 

The participation of WV in public events is very important to strengthen its position in the country, especially in the education and child protection sectors, build the image of a professional and reliable organization, intensify its partnership with the existing government structures and establish relationships with new ones. However, the resources of the WV projects and national office have never been sufficient to organize and carry out big events to attract public support and gain recognition for the great work WV has been doing in the country in recent years.


The Eurovision 2012 Song Contest is a very popular public event in Europe and other continents and attracts millions of spectators. The event is especially attractive in developing countries, like Azerbaijan. The Government of Azerbaijan treats this event as the ‘highest priority’ and almost all government ministries have been mobilized to deliver the best song contest ever. The event is also very popular in mass media inside and outside of the country.

The appearance of WV together with the organizers of the Eurovision 2012 Song Contest and participation in the “Children of Eurovision 2012 Capital” will provide opportunities to WV to target a broader audience. With this publicity, WV has the opportunity to inform them about its activities, achievements and strategic objectives in the country and demonstrate the level of partnership and cooperation with government structures. It will also be very important in accessing funding from local sources, including from the sponsors of the song contest (e.g., Azercell, SOCAR).