Members of National Preventive Group conducted visit in Ganja city

On the instructions of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, members of the Ombudsman’s National Preventive Group (NPG) conducted a scheduled visit to Ganja City Children’s Home without prior notice.

The purpose of the visit, which was organized in accordance with the OPCAT and the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman, was to investigate the living conditions and treatment standards, and to assess the situation of ensuring the rights of children, deprived of parental care.

During the visit, the NPM team monitored dormitories, kitchen, food storage, bathroom and other rooms of the child-care institution, the current situation and documentation related to the organization of medical care, nutrition and food supply were also examined.

The NPM team recommended to the administration of the facility increasing the legal awareness and practical skills of the employees and children to more effectively ensure the child rights.

At the end of the visit, in the frame of “Child Rights Month-Long Campaign" announced by the Commissioner in the country from October 20 to November 20, the NPG members held an awareness meeting with children living in the facility following the rules of social distancing.

NPG members provided detailed information on various issues of child rights, including child rights protection mechanisms, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and on how to appeal to the Ombudsman. It was also noted that Ombudsman paid special attention to ensuring the rights of children in her activity, and has created a 24/7 Call Center in the Ombudsman Institution to investigate the child rights violations in a timely manner.

The children were also informed about the importance of following all sanitary and hygienic rules to win the COVID-19 infection.