Ombudsman of Azerbaijan held an online meeting with the Secretary General of the ENNHRI

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva held an online meeting with Debbie Kohner, Secretary General of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) that brings together more than 40 national human rights institutions (NHRIs) across the Europe.

The Commissioner has given information about the activities carried out for preventing further spread of novel COVID-19 infection in Azerbaijan. Ms.Aliyeva has mentioned that she has addressed special messages to relevant state bodies on ensuring the rights of persons at higher risk groups during the special quarantine regime enacted in the country. She has noted that despite reception of citizens at the premises of the Ombudsman institution has been suspended due to special quarantine regime, their appeals are received via post, email and in online application form. At the same time, it was noted that people can also call 24/7 hotlines to submit complaints to the Ombudsman. 

Debbie Kohner stressed that the NHRI of Azerbaijan has been one of the most active institutions in the international practice taking urgent measures for protecting human rights in times of pandemic. The Secretary General has recalled that the Azerbaijani Ombudsman Office was actively represented in the meetings of ENNHRI working groups. Ms. Kohner added that the Commissioner’s activities in the context of the pandemic have been rather useful, and necessary information and materials have been shared on the website of the ENNHRI regarding these practices.

The Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva highly appreciated the activities undertaken by the ENNHRI and expressed her confidence in the development of cooperation between two institutions. It was asserted that the mutual cooperation is of special importance in the context of exchange of knowledge and experiences.

The online meeting was also focused on several issues with respect to fostering mutual cooperation.