Ombudsman held an online conference on the topic of "The Protection and Promotion of Human Rights during COVID-19 Pandemic and Martial Law"

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan held an online conference on the topic of "The Protection and Promotion of Human Rights during COVID-19 Pandemic and Martial Law" dedicated to December 10 - Human Rights Day.
 
During the conference held in an expanded format, Mr.Gulam Isaczai, the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Mr. Vladimir Shkolnikov, Senior Human Rights Adviser of the OHCHR for South Caucasus, Mr. Emin Amrullayev, the Minister of Education of  the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ms. Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Anar Karimov, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Viktor Gasimov, Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Amir Aliyev, Dean of the Law Faculty of Baku State University, Mr. Edward Carwardine, UNICEF Representative to Azerbaijan and Mr. Rauf Zeyni, the President of Azerbaijan National NGO Forum delivered speeches.    
 
Opening the conference, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Ms. Sabina Aliyeva highlighted the relevance of the topic. During her speech, she also spoke about the historical background of the Human Rights Day, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a core international document in the field of human rights, as states have established human rights and freedoms in their constitutions with reference to this document. It was also underlined that the Constitution of Azerbaijan has also acknowledged ensuring the human and citizens’ rights and freedoms, also the adequate standard of living for citizens as the supreme goal of the state.  
 
The topics of the online conference covered the challenges emerging in various fields of life during the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken for their solution. The speakers, along with the pandemic, also spoke about the martial law declared on 27th September, and shared their new experiences developed in this period of time in the field of ensuring the right to education, health, the rights of women and children.   
 
At the end of the conference, the Ombudsman has reported about the human rights activity carried out during the period of pandemic and martial law. She noted that the appeals, particularly the solution of problems faced by the vulnerable groups of the population must be a priority. It was also stated that after declaring the novel coronavirus a pandemic by the WHO, Ombudsman addressed the appeals and recommendations to the nation and the competent state bodies.
 
Although the reception of applicants has been temporarily suspended during the pandemic, the Ombudsman Institution continues receiving the applications and created new mechanisms for this purpose.  Sabina Aliyeva, at the same time, spoke the about her activity within the mandate of the national preventive mechanism in the places where persons cannot leave on their own will during special quarantine period to monitor the situation with observance of the quarantine rules, where several recommendations have been put forward in relation to ensuring the health of persons detained in those facilities.  
 
It was brought to the attention the wide range activity carried out by the Ombudsman during the 44 day-long Partiotic War, several fact-finding missions in the cities and regions, which became the target of war crimes committed by Armenia, conveying the relevant facts to the world community and the work undertaken with regard the civilians suffered. The Ombudsman stated that during that period, numerous statements and appeals, as well as fact-finding mission reports were addressed to the international community.
 
The Ombudsman noted that she appealed to international organizations concerning the use of prohibited weapons by Armenia in violation of international humanitarian law and targeting civilians, also violation of the rules of treatment of prisoners of war, recruitment of mercenaries and terrorist groups, perpetrating environmental terrorism, and destructing of religious and cultural monuments.
 
In the end, Ms. Aliyeva informed the participants of the conference about the competitions of children's drawings titled "Me and My Rights", as well as the journalistic writings titled "Rights for All!" traditionally held by the Ombudsman on the occasion of December 10 and announced the results. She acknowledged that most of the works submitted this year were devoted to the Patriotic War and its consequences, including the implementation of the norms of international law and the restoration of the rights of  nearly one million of IDPs.