Azerbaijan Children hotline set up with support of Azercell receives 15000 calls

Azerbaijan Children hotline established and operating with the support of Azercell Telecom LLC received 1,173 calls in the period between January and April of the current year. The number of calls to the hotline service is increasing every quarter. It is explained with reliability laid on hotline, positive experience delivered to one another among children, as well as promotion campaigns conducted in Baku and other cities and districts. Children Hotline launched in Baku in 2010 with Azercell’s support is primarily aimed to provide children with preliminary psychological assistance, emotional support, advise on problem resolution and link them to the relevant rehabilitation centers or other institutions when needed. During years of operation, Azerbaijan Children hotline received about 15,000 calls about various issues from children and young people, as well as parents from a number of cities and districts of the country. Majority of the calls were about mental or emotional problems, family conflicts, tension in relationships, as well as domestic violence, disability, education and legal needs.

Children residing public boarding schools, working and living outside, subjected to exploitation and violence, suffering from physical, mental or emotional difficulties, experiencing ill-treatment as well as children from refugees and internally displaced families refer to Azerbaijan Children Hotline the most. The next advantage of this hotline is to provide anonymity of children that create an opportunity for a sincere conversation with them. On the other hand, calls to 24-hour available Children's hotline are free of charge from both landline and Azercell numbers. Children in Baku can contact hotline at (012) 480 22 80; (051) 880 11 80 və (050) 680 22 80; (088) 480 22 80, while those in Gandja can reach hotline services by dialing (022) 256 20 40; (051) 880 22 80; (051) 580 22 80; (088) 256 20 40 any time.

Ganja regional Children hotline service started its operation with the support of Azercell in 2014. Ganja regional Children hotline unites experienced social workers, psychologists and lawyers to serve children and young people from Ganja and surrounding areas. Ganja regional Children hotline service has received over 600 calls since its inception.

Since 2010 Azerbaijan children hotline is a full-fledge member of the International Children Hotlines Network. The latter unites 178 children hotline services from 143 countries. International Children Hotlines Network’s report shows annual 5% increase of the calls to similar services all over the world.

Staying loyal to its traditions, Azerbaijan’s leading mobile operator Azercell Telecom will further support different population groups within its strategy of corporate social responsibility.